Muddy field woes!

[floradora09]

I've already found a couple of suspect looking scabs on Winnie's hind pasterns, and it's only the beginning of november! We're well practised at treating it and have all the magical creams from the vet, but access to a stable is a bit difficult at the moment. So need to try and a) stop the field getting too churned up (if possible!) and b) create a 'dry area' where he can stand to eat, windsuck, drink.

I can easily fence off the mudbath areas (where he's been windsucking) but am stuck for idea re creating a 'dry area'. It needs to be reasonably temporary, as we only rent fields and landowner doesn't like anything permanent, and not too costly either. I was thinking along the lines of those grass saver mats (rubber with holes in) to put on an area of higher, less wet field?

If anyone could help it would be hugeellyy appreciated! Thank you

 

[Passionflower]

ive already battled mud fever last week!!!

 

[Gypley]

We had the same problem. Our solition was to pave a small area of the field (stable size only 12x12) this was very inexpensive as you can pick up second hand slabs for pennies. (I was lucky enough to get mine for nothing as my neighbour was pulling up his patio) We leveledoff an area and put some sharps sand on the base to hold the slabs in place and hey presto...job done. It was so easy that myself and my friend managed to do it between us ( and we are the oppitomy of meak and feeble girls). Its also not a permenant measure as yoy can lift the slabs as easy as you laid them.

 

[Damnation]

We have had this problem all summer, its been so wet and our fields are clay, they just haven't dried out properly!

All I can do is put barrier cream on and treat it every day. Luckily though I do have access to a stable!

 

[floradora09]

Thanks for the replies! We're on clay too- nightmare. I'll start with barrier creaming and fencing off the wettest areas but might look into the paving Gypley, but were they not a bit slippy would be my concern? Much cheaper than the cost of putting down some rubber grass savers, which I think might sink anyway this time of year.

Passionflower- I thought I felt a little scab last week but pretended he'd just nicked himself, unfortunately I shall have to accept the fact that it is mudfever

 

[Sophstar]

My 2 get penned off in a small paddock at night so they dont trash their field/clay lake and i have just dried the spot where they stand with haynets and in a corner, where they huddle away from the wind. A thick layer of straw then shavings on top works but i'm going to ring round the tree people to see if i can have their waste tree chippings