Fencing off muddy gateways

It will make a new muddy area but it can make it easier to get them in/ out the gate if yoy can stay on the better ground!
 
I create them with electric tape, a large rectangle that opens each end. If needs be you can let one into the box to catch and then it avoids standing in mud and getting mown over by the rest as you open the gate.
I have used the long side opposite the gate as a feed line, you bring the barrow in the box and throw the hay along the fence just under the tape so they can get at it but can not walk on it.
 
Just spreads the mud! My guys like to hang out (quite chilled not pacing) by the fence line to chill with their mates next door. It never recovers over the spring and summer so is muddy very quickly. But not many meters back the ground is fine as the always like the same spot to nap and roll
 
I fence off any muddy bits to let them recover. I don’t give them access to the main gateway, I set the electric fencing back and then I can move it around and make new gateways depending on how muddy it gets.
I do only have two in the field though, but I am able to keep it pretty much mud free this way.
 
So what I'm trying to do is make my current field last as long as kindly possible. I dont care how trashed the it gets, I'm not at all precious about the grass down there. It always gets put back together in spring, a good roll and rest and its great, Its more the horses stood in it i dislike because it gets very deep at the gate area, when they come ''in'' though they have to be stables and have limited turnout so i like to push it! - Not just the immediate gate area but a good chunk which collects standing water and with them traipsing through gets a real mess.
I may give it a try. If i get another few weeks i'll be happy tbh.
 
I have always found that a good load of hard core is the best thing to sort it out. Needs re-doing about every 3 years if it is a high use gateway on soft ground. The hard core needs to be good quality (not too much dust) and made to be higher than the surrounding ground.
 
If at all possible move you gateway so it's not in a corner. I have all of mine halfway down the fence line, so they never really get muddy as the horses always hang out and wait in the top corners away from the gate. Not always possible but works a treat if you can :)
 
Red-Nose said:
I have always found that a good load of hard core is the best thing to sort it out. Needs re-doing about every 3 years if it is a high use gateway on soft ground. The hard core needs to be good quality (not too much dust) and made to be higher than the surrounding ground.
Click to expand...

We did this last year, around the gate and along our fence on geotech fabric for a 2m wide strip 15m long up to their shelter. Its muddy now, but a lot firmer than the surrounding, I can see it will need to be scraped back in a couple of years (although I dug it out by hand this spring) and topped up
 
I used to put an electric fence with 2 gates in it across the field as far from the gate as possible whilst still leaving enough space for turn out on the far side if it.
Hope that makes sense and then gradually stagger the electric fence back up the field towards the 'real' gate.
Thereby moving the fence line and gates all the time.
 
stencilface said:
We did this last year, around the gate and along our fence on geotech fabric for a 2m wide strip 15m long up to their shelter. Its muddy now, but a lot firmer than the surrounding, I can see it will need to be scraped back in a couple of years (although I dug it out by hand this spring) and topped up
Click to expand...

I'm looking to do something like this, did you dig down at all and if so how deep?
 
We make a corral by the gate for feeding and mud control and find it makes life a lot easier. My yard owner took a lot of persuading to try it but she's a total convert now. Ours are out 24/7 and some get hard feed and other don't - we just bring them into the corral to feed them - simple!
 
catembi said:
Try some mud control mats? I've just got some & immediately ordered more as they're fab!
Click to expand...


I've looked at the mud control mats as they seem very good and have the huge advantage that I could lay them now. I did get a quote from them but with delivery the cost for 15m of track was double what a local farmer quoted me for 25m of hardcore track so not really feasible.
 
I think I may try and get hardcore for next year, it’s too late now as access is across someone else’s field so I try not to churn it up at all.
I’d love matts but really think the cost would just be way too much as it’s quite a large area.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top