brightlights
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone,
I would love to know if anyone has an opinion on best stable run surface. I'm planning to add 12 x 12 loose box size turnout off each of my stables. These will be fenced to separate neighbors and most likely used only during daytime. They're mostly just to give the horses a little more room when boxed, a little more interest, etc, and are not their sole turnout. I plan to add drainage (piping/ gulley if needed, compacted base layer, etc... we have a good builder who will advise), but am still undecided on which surface to choose.
Does anyone have any thoughts/experience on using rubber pavers or outdoor-specific rubber mats? The mats in question are supposed to be suitable in all weather conditions (so in theory non-slip when wet and not damaged by heat/cold), so seem like they could be a potential solution. I would have loved to give the horses something soft to lay down in, but am not convinced that positive outweighs possibility of sand colic, slippery wood chip, etc. I suppose my main concerns would be potential impact on soft tissue with a surface that doesn't accommodate natural hoof slip (in the event of shenanigans) and whether they would be truly non-slip in an unexpected downpour.
I have thought about sand + fiber, fiber only, woodchip, crumb rubber, round/loose stone, and the rubber pavers/mats. Seems like I can't find any majority opinion on what the best/ least bad (ha) surface is and am loathe to learn through experience, as seems to be the case with everything we've done with the yard, despite much research and overthinking
. Thanks in advance if anyone does have thoughts to share!
I would love to know if anyone has an opinion on best stable run surface. I'm planning to add 12 x 12 loose box size turnout off each of my stables. These will be fenced to separate neighbors and most likely used only during daytime. They're mostly just to give the horses a little more room when boxed, a little more interest, etc, and are not their sole turnout. I plan to add drainage (piping/ gulley if needed, compacted base layer, etc... we have a good builder who will advise), but am still undecided on which surface to choose.
Does anyone have any thoughts/experience on using rubber pavers or outdoor-specific rubber mats? The mats in question are supposed to be suitable in all weather conditions (so in theory non-slip when wet and not damaged by heat/cold), so seem like they could be a potential solution. I would have loved to give the horses something soft to lay down in, but am not convinced that positive outweighs possibility of sand colic, slippery wood chip, etc. I suppose my main concerns would be potential impact on soft tissue with a surface that doesn't accommodate natural hoof slip (in the event of shenanigans) and whether they would be truly non-slip in an unexpected downpour.
I have thought about sand + fiber, fiber only, woodchip, crumb rubber, round/loose stone, and the rubber pavers/mats. Seems like I can't find any majority opinion on what the best/ least bad (ha) surface is and am loathe to learn through experience, as seems to be the case with everything we've done with the yard, despite much research and overthinking
. Thanks in advance if anyone does have thoughts to share!