Question about woodchips for menage

madhector

madhector

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 December 2006
Messages
12,679
Location
soon to be up north!
www.darlingdressage.co.uk
Ok, now the ground is drying out, the woodchips for the menage will hopefully be arriving soon, BUT we have 2 options of woodchips to get (from different suppliers) one cut with the grain, the other against, the one cut with the grain is quite a bit cheaper. Just wondered really if there was much of a difference, and if anyone had any experience of this? Which should I use?!
confused.gif


Thanks
cool.gif
 
It needs to be the roughest cut of wood chip possible. Wood chips cut with the grain shift too much and are too smooth. The rougher cut doesn't shift and binds together much more effectively. Hence the difference in price!
My husband has had a large woodchip arena for about 10 years, so knows all about chips!
 
Ahh, is this what makes the difference between those which surfaces are slippy and those that are not?
 
That's very interesting...

Madhector....what is the price difference, if you don't mind me being so inquisitive?
 
*runs off to wake up OH to ask*
OH was saying that the best way to put down woodchip is to start with 6 inches of hardcore. Says that ideally, if you put 12 inches of woodchip on top, you won't need to use a membrane. Secret apparently, is the high base of hardcore, so that once the woodchip beds down you will have a surface that drains more effectively. Don't do too much jumping on it until it beds down.
If you get it right you will be able to ride on it in all weathers, all year round. Even with all the rain, ours is dry on top - you can hear squelching underneath but you don't sink into it. It is important to top it up once a year or so as it beds down.
Ours is raked and harrowed everyday and copes with 20 horses at a time for 5 hours a day, and isn't slippy!
Most importantly, if you are getting the natural wood coloured chips, they clean inside your horses hooves a treat!
We did have a blue woodchip surface a few years ago, which looked fab but turned horses socks blue...landing on it in white jods was also a no no...
grin.gif
blush.gif
 
lol at the blue woodchips!
grin.gif


We arent putting down any hardcore, as were advised that it wasnt nessesary with where it was going, very well drained, and on a very tight budget, but aparently it works very well like this so fingers crossed. It will only be used by 1/2 horses once a day. How long should I leave it before I ride on it once its in? And how long till its suitable to jump on?

Thanks again
cool.gif
 
I wish you luck if you haven't prepared the ground.Ours was done by cushionride and was on a base of plainings rolled and then 8" depth of wood chip inside a log surround. It was great for 4 years but has now rotted a lot and is getting deep and a bit squelchy.It needs a top up but it will cost quite a bit to top up and haven't the money at present.If you are putting it on soil you will need a membrane and you will need to top up quite often or you will damage the membrane
 
Your best bet is to use a treated woodchip, like Cushoinride.
They settle a lot quicker, unteresated woodchip will churn up and spread for months and months, especially putting it in this time of year with no rain (ha ha!).
The downside is that it needs replacing quicker.
I wouldnt even consider not putting in drainage and a membrane, that is the key whatever surface you put on top of it.
Hardcore is very, very cheap.
 
You can ride in it straight away as long as it has been raked/harrowed. It will feel a bit shifty underfoot to begin with, luckily a bit of rain will help bed it down LOL!
It will be fine in walk and trot, but in canter be careful on the corners!! I would try and leave it a few weeks before jumping in it as you want it to settle properly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top