becca1305
Well-Known Member
A couple of years ago when we had our manege built we had a playpen type structure put in behind the back of part of the stables and accessed through one stable which has a rear door. It was put in for my cushings retiree who has to spend quite a bit of time off the grass, so that he can still see his mates in the field and have a bit of extra space to roam around in. Its been a godsend and has improved his quality of life no end, but after 2 1/2 years its very battered already.
Here is a picture of it soon after installation:
Now however the rubber (extra left over from manege) has all gone, and the sand has been compressed badly and is very firm with dips and troughs everywhere. He has also gone down through the liner in a couple of places. Unfortunately due to the size (approx 10m x 5m) we can't get the quad in there to grade it and we have kept using the rake on it but with little effect.
To conclude, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about a different kind of surface to try on it? It has to be suitable for a horse to lie down on and comfy for laminitic feet/ horses on box rest with injuries. I am loathe to use sand again because it hasn't worked very well this time, and I am concerned that other horses using the playpen area in the future may try to dig in it! so I was looking for other ideas first. So far all I have decided for definite is if a solid surface isnt used then I will definitely concrete a rectangular area under where his hay net goes and then drill a rubber mat on to the top to both help stop the massive dip which is created by him standing there a lot, and to make it easier to clean up dropped hay. My only idea so far for the whole area is to concrete and then liquid rubber mat leaving a drain in the centre for water, but I would imagine this would be expensive. Has anyone done anything similar before?/any recommendations on surface please?
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Here is a picture of it soon after installation:
Now however the rubber (extra left over from manege) has all gone, and the sand has been compressed badly and is very firm with dips and troughs everywhere. He has also gone down through the liner in a couple of places. Unfortunately due to the size (approx 10m x 5m) we can't get the quad in there to grade it and we have kept using the rake on it but with little effect.
To conclude, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about a different kind of surface to try on it? It has to be suitable for a horse to lie down on and comfy for laminitic feet/ horses on box rest with injuries. I am loathe to use sand again because it hasn't worked very well this time, and I am concerned that other horses using the playpen area in the future may try to dig in it! so I was looking for other ideas first. So far all I have decided for definite is if a solid surface isnt used then I will definitely concrete a rectangular area under where his hay net goes and then drill a rubber mat on to the top to both help stop the massive dip which is created by him standing there a lot, and to make it easier to clean up dropped hay. My only idea so far for the whole area is to concrete and then liquid rubber mat leaving a drain in the centre for water, but I would imagine this would be expensive. Has anyone done anything similar before?/any recommendations on surface please?
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