Setting up a schooling area in a field??

chickeninabun

chickeninabun

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I haven't got a school at my stables so am thinking of setting up a schooling area in the field. Fence it off from the other horses (electric or plank fence) then putting my markers out etc.
Now obviously the track will get well worn and maybe quite muddy & boggy during wet weather.
Any ideas on something I could maybe put on the outside track to help keep it more usable all year round? I was thinking maybe bark chippings??
 
Would that have to be specialist equine sand, do you think? Or could I get away with having a few tonne of building sand delivered?!
confused.gif
 
Is this 'your' stables? (obviously assuming so)

Could you not get quite a bid field to keep the horses off an alternate where you put the markers? As I don't think you would have too much luck with sand, I think bark might be a better option at a push... But it's tricky as the main issue is the foundation, which will be mud!
x Best of luck though x
 
does it have to be a set area. We set out an arena using white guttering and put our markers out, this means we can move it easily if the ground gets churned up. If they happen to be in the same paddock as it then I add elec fencing but this rarely happens as at the min it is on their old summer paddock which has good cover but not too long. And in the summer it will switch to the old winter paddock. The only time it cant go out is the last month or so before we cut for hay as the grass is too long, but it only takes me about 10 mins to set out a rough 20x40 so can do it after getting them in to ride.

We had bark in the winter one year round a track but it didnt really help, find it is much better to move it around the field to where the grass cover is good.
 
We have created a 55/25 wood chip schooling area in our field. If you harrow weekly, and roll occasionaly, it is as usable as any other! Speak to your local friendly tree surgeon!
 
R2R, please forgive me hijacking, but my friend and I are hoping to make a little woodchip paddock in our field (for a bit of schooling, plus occasional use by our laminitis-prone ponies when the grass is too rich for them.) Did you put a membrane or base of any sort down, or just woodchips? What depth of woodchips? Are they OK to trot & canter on? We have been promised a good quantity of woodchips, suitable for horses (no yew or poisonous plants) but don't know what depth we need. THANK YOU for any advice!
 
we have fenced a 40 x 20area off and put woodchip down on the grass. It has served the purpose but does need topping up regular and mucking out after use. We have trotted and cantered on it no probs.wouldnt turn out in it tho, soon make a muddy mess
 
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