Turnout pens

[melle]

Hi, after some advice re turnout pen surfaces. When I moved my horses home I built some post and rail turnout pens. I used membrane, mudcontol mats and then a legal carpet type surface on top (similar to Eco Flex). It looked amazing and worked really well despite having to poo pick by hand but now its been down a few years, the carpet pieces have all compacted and become quite slushy in places especially after some rain. The carpet absorbs and holds the water. I am looking for a top up as it is now quite thin in places and cannot decide if a 5cm layer or rubber chippings over the top would work as the water would drain through to the carpet underneath and the top would remain dry. I know rubber would be tricky to poo pick but am happy to manage that side of it and our muck heap doesn't get removed so its not an issue if some rubber gets in there. The alternative would be to dig up what is there and replace with sand and fibre surface but obviously want to avoid that if possible. Does anyone have any thoughts?

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

We have pea gravel and it really is the best tunout surface. Easy to poo pick, doesnt hold water and he horses sleep on it.

 

[melle]

We have pea gravel and it really is the best tunout surface. Easy to poo pick, doesnt hold water and he horses sleep on it.

Yes, I think other options would have worked better! I am trying to avoid digging it all up and starting again

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

These are ours, we love them and still working 4 years in!

 

[ihatework]

We have pea gravel and it really is the best tunout surface. Easy to poo pick, doesnt hold water and he horses sleep on it.

What size pea gravel do you use? Presumably the smallest possible before it turns to grit?
Do you find it wedges in their white line?

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

What size pea gravel do you use? Presumably the smallest possible before it turns to grit?
Do you find it wedges in their white line?

We just asked for washed pea gravel and thats what quarry gave us.
We have never had any issues with the gravel going near white lines, and we have a few barefoot horses, as well as my two fully shod ladies.

 

[ihatework]

We just asked for washed pea gravel and thats what quarry gave us.
We have never had any issues with the gravel going near white lines, and we have a few barefoot horses, as well as my two fully shod ladies.

Interesting because from what your video shows it looks really quite fine, almost more grit than what I have in my mind a pea gravel

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Interesting because from what your video shows it looks really quite fine, almost more grit than what I have in my mind a pea gravel

Cant tell you! We have them 4 years without any issues, and our farrier is thrilled with how the horses feet are. We currently have 9 horses on these pens.

 

[ihatework]

Cant tell you! We have them 4 years without any issues, and our farrier is thrilled with how the horses feet are. We currently have 9 horses on these pens.

Sorry, me again, bit like a dog with a bone here.

Close up what does it look like?

I have granite dust/grit in mine (thin layer, not enough for lying down) but am interested if a pea gravel area is worth it too.

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Sorry, me again, bit like a dog with a bone here.

Close up what does it look like?

I have granite dust/grit in mine (thin layer, not enough for lying down) but am interested if a pea gravel area is worth it too.

View attachment 169156

View attachment 169157

Hahaha gas!

Eh I think ours is more like the gravel/shingle.
Ill try take a photo of it this evening or tomorrow for you.

Its defo not as fine as the dust stuff.