Sandpit for winter turnout?

[Birker2020]

Just been commenting on another thread on here about daily horsecare routine and noticed someone else turning out in a sandpit.

In the winter our livery yard uses a 15m x 35m sandpit split in two with electric fencing running down the middle and two at a time go out in it. Mine goes out from 7-9 in the week with another horse and then they come in after two hours and another two go out. The Y.O puts a massive net in every afternoon after the last two horses come in, for the following day and gradually they all have a go and munch through it during the day.

Its much better for my horse as he's not trawling through deep mud and not getting the complications that mud brings. Easy to groom and pick out feed, and the rugs don't get trashed so easily either! Enough room to have a canter, buck and a f**t too and a daily roll!

Then when its March/April they will go out in the grass paddocks until about October time again.

Anyone else benefit from sand paddock turn out?

 

[Fiona]

No, but I really fancy one... I think I am gradually talking hubby round, and we have an ideal space to put it.

Our fields are quite wet, and after continued rain, we do have to keep them in for a day or two, it would be fantastic to have an alternative..

I've heard a mixture of sand and woodchip is good, or is that not the case..

Fiona

 

[stencilface]

I think once we have our arena in we may well put them in there every so often to relieve the ground, and when the mud is really bad.

 

[Fiona]

Are you getting a membrane in your manage SF???

If you do, then don't let your horses in loose..

Ours got in once (by mistake when I was druving car in to level the surface), the TB immediately dug a huge hole and punctured the membrane. I was lucky to have a few bits of membrane spare and fixed it by gluing down a square, but if they had been in there with no supervision then there's no doubt they would have completely trashed it

FIona

 

[stencilface]

I think so, the exact design is as yet unknown! I'm just glad we didn't start in November as we originally planned due to all the rain.

I think it might supervised turnout, but esp for the little ponies might be nice for them to have a gander about and not get stuck

 

[be positive]

I can see many benefits, mainly for the human that has less work keeping the horse clean but from the point of view of the horse I think there is less to be gained from being restricted to a 15x 15m area for just a couple of hours a day for half of the year, I would consider it just for really bad weather but mine are all out now in the pouring rain, heads down picking at grass, well rugged, muddy from rolling, they have the chance every day to really kick up their heels and gallop if they want, they may be at risk of mud fever but that is easily dealt with if not allowed to take hold, the fields will recover in the spring and only the gateways are a little muddy at the moment.

In an ideal world I would have large areas of hardstanding with a barn/ shelter so they could live out 24/7 but it would cost a fortune to set up where I am on clay soil which would require drains put in first to ensure it lasts.

 

[Auslander]

Two of mine live in my lunging pen, and the other two have one of the schools with an additional tarmac/mud area. My fields are absolutely soaking wet, so I moved them into the pens, where they seem very happy. My only concern is them eating sand, as they have adlib big bale hay - but I've got around that by having a board covered in tarpaulin under my hay station, so that only the hay they don't want ends up on the sand.
They go out in the field a couple of times a week - generally have a charge around, eat for about 5 minutes and bring themselves straight back in. The two in the school area have access to my front paddock, but only use it to eyeball me through the kitchen window when it's dinnertime!

 

[Enfys]

My land is a giant sandpit. Dig down 4" and there it is

Pros:
I have a ready made surface (I also live on top of a hill so drainage is no issue)
Little to no mud. Deepest joy Seriously, I would choose sand over any other soil type.
I can till and harrow any flat area and have an instant riding ring (At my last place our ring grew to over an acre - perfect for gaming and reining)

Cons:

Not so much grass,

That is the only con I can actually think of, but it is also a pro as I would hate lush grass and having to limit grazing and all that palaver. I much prefer to let them pick at what is there and provide forage year round.

 

[EQUIDAE]

Make sure there is adequate hay - if they pick scraps up off the floor you risk sand colic

 

[Birker2020]

No, but I really fancy one... I think I am gradually talking hubby round, and we have an ideal space to put it.

Our fields are quite wet, and after continued rain, we do have to keep them in for a day or two, it would be fantastic to have an alternative..

I've heard a mixture of sand and woodchip is good, or is that not the case..

Fiona

You have to be careful with woodchip. Not only does it disintegrate after a few months but you will also find that it can be quite a slippy surface. Probably be okay for turnout if the horses don't hoon around too much on it.

 

[Birker2020]

I can see many benefits, mainly for the human that has less work keeping the horse clean but from the point of view of the horse I think there is less to be gained from being restricted to a 15x 15m area for just a couple of hours a day for half of the year, I would consider it just for really bad weather but mine are all out now in the pouring rain, heads down picking at grass, well rugged, muddy from rolling, they have the chance every day to really kick up their heels and gallop if they want, they may be at risk of mud fever but that is easily dealt with if not allowed to take hold, the fields will recover in the spring and only the gateways are a little muddy at the moment.

In an ideal world I would have large areas of hardstanding with a barn/ shelter so they could live out 24/7 but it would cost a fortune to set up where I am on clay soil which would require drains put in first to ensure it lasts.

I haven't a choice on the yard I am at, but having come from one yard that had 20+ horses milling round the gate and the mud was literally up to your knees was a nightmare. The horses that didn't observe the pecking order and would try to push in to be first through the gate when coming in, literally got mashed by those higher in the order, mainly because they couldn't get away in time due to the thick clay mud. Trying to get your horse through that lot whilst losing your wellies to the mud was a total nightmare and extremley dangerous both for owner and horse.

I lost a horse who slipped on a slope in a muddy wet field and broke his leg, (undoubtedly he had a hairline crack already but the muddy slope finished him off) and my present horse was subjected to being chased round a muddy field by a pack of out of control dogs at one point, no way would I want the mud problem again.

It hasn't anything to do with keeping my horse clean, I have had over 20 years of experience with grass turnout in the winter and certainly don't mind coping with a muddy horse if he is a happy horse. But if there is minimal acreage as at my yard, then a sandpit is the ideal answer. No pulled tendons, lost shoes or mud fever. Auslander seems to have a good set up and at least they have the best of both worlds.

 

[Goldenstar]

I hope to build a largish hardstanding next year with a big shed at the back it will be open to one of the fields so the horses will be able to choose where they want to go.
There's a place where I may be able to fit in a rolling pit but it will up to the horses to choose where they go .
I used my school which is 40 by 30 for turn out at one point it did cause a lot of work in terms of maintaining the school and I didn't like seeing horses in small turnout areas ,it restricts movement to much IMO .
Although I do have several small grass turnout squares but they are used by horses waiting for the vet or farrier who would otherwise be in the stable and they are great for horses who are injured .I have to be careful with them in winter .I have three ungrazed since October ATM for C when he is allowed out again, he's had KS surgery last week .

 

[ester]

From those I've seen I do tend to think they are often more likely to do themselves a mischief having a buck and hoon in a small space than charging around a large muddy field. - watching them makes me wince more anyway. I think if it is done it is better it is attached to stables/they are turned out in all the time so they don't end up having an explosion once they get out.

 

[kathantoinette]

Yes I've got one. OH built it a few years ago. It's about 20m x 10m. Enough for them to walk about and have a roll if they want. Originally left it with just stone on top which was OK, did the job but a bit uncomfortable for the pony with no shoes. So topped it off with rough quarry sand. It does get a bit wet in places and well compacted - a good demonstration of the reasons not to use quarry/cheap sand in an arena.

 

[Auslander]

My pen is around 30x20 - I wouldn't want any smaller for two horses, as the two mares do have the occasiaonal party in it! Ideally the fence would be slightly higher - there have been a couple of fence hopping incidents!

This is the other one, which opens onto the school, and small front paddock. I reckon they'd happily live here all year round - they love it!

 

[Birker2020]

Wow, you have a great set up there. I will have to post a photo of our sandpit. its not as large but is does. Sometimes you have to sacrifice some things for others. I sacrificed the grazing in winter but got better, safer quieter hacking and a really decent surface to ride on.