More attractive alternative to concrete yard - any thoughts?

[kit279]

I've got my stables in my garden and they are technically mobile so as to have dirt floors, rather than concrete. Last winter, I put some hardcore in front of them for the horses to use as hardstanding with the plan of putting some concrete down in front of them:-

However, they are right outside my back door which is great but I've been wondering if there's any more attractive alternatives than a concrete slab in front of them. The horses do dig at the hard core which churns it up so probably a gravel type alternative wouldn't be ideal and tarmac chippings or similar would be less nice to look than concrete so that's a non-starter. Any suggestions?

 

[DW Team]

Paved the brick type like the ones used in drive ways.

 

[AngieandBen]

Pea gravel would work well

 

[GingerCat]

Pea gravel does look nice, but from experience I can say that it is murder to keep tidy, with hay and straw blowing about

 

[sandraban]

dont have a clue but i have too say i love your stables they are so cute

why not have a look at some proffesh stable builders images on there websites for ideas as im sure they will have it looking nice?...not much help i know but just had too say i love your stables hahaha

 

[Booboos]

If you need to sweep up concrete is the easiest solution. You can make it look nicer though with a brick/paving stone border and some potted plants. Alternatively bricks in a traditional pattern or cobbles could look really nice but will be a lot more expensive and you need to make sure they won't be slippery.

If it was a larger area that you didn't need to sweep up, hardore, blinding layer and a small layer of woodchip could look really nice. You can see this idea here (sorry about the horsebox I didn't have any other photos handy):

 

[TJP]

You can use a dye in concrete if it's the grey colour that is putting you off.

 

[TGM]

I'd go for a concrete area bordered with brick edging and with some brick banding running through it. More attractive than plain concrete but easier to sweep and care for than all brick, gravel etc.

A bit like this: