Field maintenance

[Olliepoppy]

Hi, my boy who lives out, has got a favourite place to stand in his field. As a consequence it's getting muddier and muddier. Is there anything I can put down in this spot to improve the ground i.e would putting wheat straw over the mud help? With winter approaching I don't want his feet soaking in mud, he also tends to sleep in this spot so gets uber mucky! Thanks in advance

 

[JillA]

Wheat straw will rot fairly quickly and make it worse within a few weeks, as will shavings. Old hay doesn't degrade as quickly but will still get pretty deep. Bark chippings might help, as also will old carpet but if it is your land and you can invest in it you are much better off digging it out and replacing with hardcore.

 

[Olliepoppy]

It's not my land but I don't think the farmer would be adverse to some old carpet being thrown down, thanks for the idea

 

[Enfys]

Or rubber matting ... as others have said, not straw/hay, that will just get wet and deep and absolutely horrid, you will have a quagmire after the first decent rainfall

Have a word with your farmer chappy, he may have suggestions too

 

[MotherOfChickens]

last winter I used those interlocking plastic grids (heavy duty ones) with very heavy matting over the top as a hardstanding area for two unshod ponies. It actually did very well considering the weather we had. once edge was against a wall so it didnt move about but actually, the matting was so heavy, I dont think it would have anyway-it also wasn't slippy.

 

[Brightbay]

We use old carpet. It has pros and cons.
Pro: Ideal for horses to stand on to have hooves cleaned; stops ground getting churned up in specific areas; can be layered; you can sweep it to keep soil/stones/hay etc. off it.
Con: Not ideal for shod horses - as it breaks down, holes form that shoes can get caught in. You need to put it down on dry level ground - once things are churned up, it's too late. It rots (best to use the wool/jute type as nylon never breaks down but gets caught up in everything).

However, having said that - the rotting is good, you just throw another one on top but if you then leave the area, grass will grow through the old carpet material. We find it works best with the pile downwards.

 

[Olliepoppy]

Thank you everyone, carpet hunting I go..

 

[Goldenstar]

I have seen straw used with great success but you need a lot of it .