Muddy Gateways

[Tagman]

Hi guys.
We have had our arena refurbished this week and the old membrane is currently awaiting removal. My question is, has anyone any experience of putting membrane/carpet into gateways to help with mud control? Any tips?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have used carpet. It doesn't work!

 

[Tagman]

I have used carpet. It doesn't work!

?
Saves me a job though thanks. It's bloody heavy!!
Any other tips or shall I just stick to straw?

 

[Coblette]

I dug out my gateway and put crushed hardcore down. Much less mud so far in heavy clay

 

[Widgeon]

Our YO is thinking about putting mud mats down - the existing gateways are beyond saving already so we'll make some new ones (electric tape paddocks so no JCB required!) and put mats down before we start using them. Can let you know how that goes.

 

[Hallo2012]

membrane and then 20mm limestone on top, works a treat.

 

[NeverSurrender]

We also tried carpets last year and honestly never again - they get wet and sodden, if youre really lucky they sink, then when you lift them in the spring it's back breaking, stinking work that allows your new boyfriend a baptism of fire into the horse world ?

 

[TPO]

We tried various stones/gravel/hardcore last year and it all sank without a trace...

Just laid Mudslabs and they are a life changer (saver!). They are expensive but they really work.

 

[Durhamchance]

We're laying mudmats this weekend. We have 7t hardcore for our 'hardstanding' area and 50m2 of mudmats with 2t sand to the walkways. Its going to be a joint effort with the husbands mucking in in exchange for beer!
Will let you know how it goes!

 

[Ranyhyn]

Definitely mud control mats

 

[Cortez]

I've used mud mats and also mud grills with good results. You do need to dig them in and put hardcore underneath (and gravel on top to fill the cells) for best results.

 

[Micky]

Dig out and fill with road planings..best thing we ever put down

 

[Tiddlypom]

Won’t mud control mats leave a ridge/step where they start and finish in a gateway area? The sort that a horse could take a mis step on and injure itself?

I wheelbarrow crusher run into our gateways, and that works well. The mud sucks it up then holds it in place.

 

[Cortez]

Won’t mud control mats leave a ridge/step where they start and finish in a gateway area? The sort that a horse could take a mis step on and injure itself?

Not if you dig them in properly.

 

[ihatework]

The mud control mats (ie the commercial brand, not the generic holey rubber/plastic reinforcements) do generally sit above ground level.

And whilst I couldn’t categorically say a horse wouldn’t injure themselves, because let’s face it a horse could kill itself in a padded cell, there is nothing about them that would cause me undue concern.

My friends stud has just installed them in gateways, around watertroughs and created a pad that goes underneath/around the hay feeder. Really good investment, especially for those on clay

 

[TPO]

I've put the mudslabs down; they are a walkway between two gates and to a trough.

Fat cob trotted over them into the newly opened big field, QH gently loped along them like a trail horse and popped off into the field then along came Neurotic TB resembling a dsypraxic galloping spider as he skidded along and off them* ??

*horse barefoot and sand put down on slabs

TB did come in with one small cut above his fetlock the day after they went down so I'm guessing the slabs caused it. Just a wee nick and no dramas.

Every day the other two step off the walkway into the field and approximately 75% of the time TB missteps and falls off them ??‍ he's getting better but...

I'm not concerned about them causing injury and they are potentially saving him.from the dreaded mudfever. Eventually he'll remember to think about where he puts his feet ?

 

[Esmae]

We dug our gateway out and put hardcore and limestone chips on top and then ground stabilising mats on top of that. Works really well and never a problem now.

 

[Sugar12]

bought mud control slabs last year which was a very mucky winter have to say they are a lifesaver so much I saved up and bought some extra for the gates ways this year. it is recommended that you put gritted sand on them or woodchips to help with grip. They have a grip on them but if horses are running fast enough on them they will slip . My lot are a sensible bunch (mostly) so I bought some cheap small solar lights from Amazon they light up about 10 feet away from the entrance (I got a two pack one going in each direction) so they instantly slow down when the light comes on and they see the change in surface. This may not be a solution for all horses but it works for mine.

 

[FestiveG]

We are currently putting down mud control mats, started with two pallets worth, in the shelter and under the overhang, on hard-core and sand, next third on the ground. The next two pallets are in the process of being put down to create a decent amount of hard standing. I am putting them down directly on the ground and so far so good. I am putting them on the shavings etc from the shelter and the horses are managing fine on them. It would have been better to get them down earlier, but things didn't just go to plan. A local farmer friend who built the shelter, keeps coming round to marvel at them!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I was seriously thinking about some of these but they have stopped taking orders for this year unfortunately.

 

[Sugar12]

I was seriously thinking about some of these but they have stopped taking orders for this year unfortunately.

keep eye on their facebook page they have a number of people who ordered and not paid and they are contacting them to see if they are proceeding so some might become available.

 

[FFAQ]

Having seen how amazing mud mats are, i'm saving up for a pallet load. If i ever win the lottery i might use them all over the field ?

 

[Durhamchance]

Ours are down now and are working brilliantly. The boys went straight on them much to our surprise! They were easy enough to lay, and move when we had a reshuffle. We just wish we could afford another couple of pallets now

 

[Littlewills]

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They really arent similar and involve digging out the surface, then digging loose the sub soil. And after all that, they are more expensive. So not going to replace mud control mats.

 

[PeterNatt]

Do the the job properly and dig out the gateways laying hardcore and then a membrane and then crushed aggrogate above. If done properly you will have no problems.