Is clay soil that bad?

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estellebradley

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I've finally found a potential new livery yard and it's great, good school, mini x country course and the thing I'm most excited about - a proper toilet!

The only thing I'm worrying about is the fields, the owner has warned me it's clay soil. I think it means it will get more water logged - but is it a reason not to move to the yard? The fields are quite small to where I am now but at it's barb wire fencing where I am now and post and rail at the possible new place.

I really don't know whether to move - help!
 
In my experience, it bakes solid when its dry and gets heavy and poached when its wet. It doesnt drain well so moss, clover, marestail and bindwind love it. Grass doesnt grow well on it and will burn off quickly in the summer, leaving the way clear for the return of the moss.

So yes, its bad !
 
I've been at yards with clay soil and a lot depends on how many horses are on it. It's OK if fields are not overstocked, but if there are a lot of horses on there in winter it can turn into a real quagmire.
 
We have it and it stains everything, but having clay would not put me off my perfect yard though.

And yes 'a bog' springs to mind which in turn pull shoes but i guess all ground is like that in winter.
 
Nothing can beat Essex clay - apparently the stickest mud in the country.

As long as the fields are not over stocked, rested and you accept a quadmire round the gate it is ok.

Simple way to get round the winter blues is to cover the legs in pig oil and sulphur - keeps skin in great condition and helps the mud slide off as it dries.

In summer ground goes from perfect cantering to rock hard in a few days but I normally find a grassy track which is ok for a gentle canter. Winter hacking is very muddy and you can end up doing more road work.

Would not put me off a perfect yard, but I have always kept my horses on clay so don't know any different.
 
I've always been on yards with clay soil. It can be an absolute nightmare, my last yard was over stocked so the fields were terrible, but current yard is has better field management. But even with the best will in the world you seem to end up washing off horses legs, boots, all up your trousers!

Agree with everyone else mind, if thats the only thing wrong it wouldn't but me off the yard.
 
It is a nightmare, everything is sticky, shoes get pulled off and it takes ages to dry up! In the ideal world i guess we would all have the perfect soil with the perfect grazing and the perfect yard but whilst clay soil is something not to be desired it really isnt the end of the world!

The yard i know keeps the horses is from oct -may as the clay is so bad and the horses end up with far too many lost shoes and injurys to metion usually due to their legs being 'sucked' in by the mud!
 
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