Surface recommendations for small turnout area

Doodlesmum

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I’ve got a small turnout area that is approximately 15mx10m. It used to be sand, but was laid with no membrane, so it has all unsurprisingly disappeared.

I’d like to make it into a proper winter turnout area (as part of a larger space, have it all dug out, membrane laid etc…), but I can’t for the life of me think of what surface to lay.

Could anyone recommend anything, and if possible post a picture? It already has a good soak-away underneath, but I’m looking for a nice, well draining surface.

Thanks in advance.
 

LEC

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Another with rubber/sand and would advise not to as cannot go on muck heap. We had ours done properly with drainage etc and worth the time and effort to do that but next time would just do silica sand. It’s been amazing to what it stands up to so worth spending the money. We can lunge and do ground work in ours which is also helpful.
Don’t do bark as just turns to sludge after 2 years. Neighbour even used work chip type bark and it looks horrible now compared to ours. We have large tubs for haylage with rubber mat in front to try and stop it spreading and be easy to clean up. We also have two others with stone dust which has also worked well but they can’t roll on it so normally get time in the other one first for a roll and a play.
 

Hallo2012

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i did mud control mats straight on to clay soil and topped with sharp sand and carpet fibre-never gets boggy or yucky.

hay-i put nets inside 130L planters so the mess is contained and poo pick carefully with a small rake and poop scoop.
 

SEL

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We use pea gravel and its been a god send! 4 years in now!
How did you prepare the ground first? I need to do something before next winter and also know that the planners think we have enough hardcore - unfortunately the yard, machinery shed and open sided hay barn aren't suitable for loose horses so I need to come up with a planner friendly (or out of sight out of mind) mud free area.
 

Polos Mum

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I would avoid anything synthetic (carpet fiber / rubber) unless you have hours each day to pick the bits off the poo before it goes on the muck heap.

I love our carpet school and turn out on it in poor weather - but we have to put poos from the school in a separate pile and once a year I grab rubber gloves and pick out all the carpet by hand - it's a total pain.
All that carpet in the muck heap would be a nightmare.
 

sport horse

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I have three - one is sand & rubber but we use it for lunging and loose schooling as well as turnout. The other two are smaller and just silica sand. Bonus is all the droppings from these two go on a special muck heap kept for my vegetable garden and as we have clay soil the sandy manure is great soil conditioner!!
 

ihatework

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Are you wanting something soft for rolling or just an easy maintenance allweather?

If the latter, I have grano dust over type 1IMG_2646.jpeg
 

CastlelackSportHorses

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How did you prepare the ground first? I need to do something before next winter and also know that the planners think we have enough hardcore - unfortunately the yard, machinery shed and open sided hay barn aren't suitable for loose horses so I need to come up with a planner friendly (or out of sight out of mind) mud free area.
We dug up all top soil, put down shale and rolled it to no end, then plenty pea gravel so its soft enough for them to lay and roll on.
 

KC31

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We are just getting quotes to have a big hardstanding area with turnout pens added on. It has been a minefield of information. Do be careful with the surface. One contractor was telling us about new laws and legislation and that has made us think very differently to what we originally planned. Everyone that has been to us has said the same though, drainage is the key! We were thinking it was quite a simple process !! Big mistake. 😄
 

Parksmum3

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Love the pea gravel turnout pens. We are looking at different surfaces for when we do ours next year. I also want it to double up as a lunging pen, anyone any suggestions wether or not pea gravel would be suitable for very light work
 

EventingMum

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rOdXTFK.jpg


This is Mud Control mats with builders sand on top laid on top of grass on clay soil with zero preparation, we top up the sand every couple of years but that's all. It's been worth every penny!
 
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