Sand turn out area - your views please

[CazD]

I've read the post about a woodchip "trash" paddock for the winter and several people have commented about having sand paddocks. This is something I thought about before putting down a woodchip turnout area but was put off by the worry that the horses would end up digesting sand along with hay, leaves etc that ended up in the sand.

How do people manage sand paddocks. Is there likely to be any worry of sand colic?

 

[CBAnglo]

A friend of mine has kept her laminitic cob in a sand paddock for 5+ years and he has been perfectly happy. He has a big tub of soaked hay and self-filling water trough. The other horses are next door to him, and the paddock can be shared if they are lame etc. He is out in it 24/7 over the summer and is stabled over night in winter.

He managed to get laminitis on a mud paddock, which had literally 2 blades of grass in it, so this works the best. She just skips it out every day so it is always clear.

It is probably about 20x15 so not huge but big enough for sharing. The sand isnt very thick - it isnt equestrian sand, I think she used beach sand (definitely not builders sand). But obviously as it isnt really big enough for him to do too much crashing about it is fine, in all weathers. I would worry if the sand was too deep and the horse did a ligament/tendon.

 

[Rainbowrider]

CBAnglo- Do you know where your friend got her beach sand from, and any idea how much it cost? I am right in the middle of the country, so I'm thinking it might not be best value for money here?
Also, when you say not very thick, how many inches would you say? Did she sort drainage etc, or just tip out the sand onto the paddock and smooth it out?
Thanks x