Using old hay/straw in gateways

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flirtygerty

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Moved house in August, so first winter here, have a field and old cow barn to use, no stables, all the land is crisscrossed with underground streams, one of which goes from outside the top gate, down a slope to another gate, then leaves the field, the slope to the other gate is now churned up, sticky, slippy mud, Since I have been feeding hay at the lower gate, the uneaten hay has been trodden into the mud and seems to help, do you think unrolling manky old bales down the slope, effectively laying a carpet over the mud would work, my four are not sensible in the field and I can see someone getting badly injured.
Hope this makes sense
 
Ditto Honey.

Can you fence any sections off? Do you have any land spare for spring?

Fencing gateways can be good as it creates a wider area for them to collect at, which saves you for a bit. The only way to get through is to know its winter and it will end! Just over a month now til the days start getting lighter again :)
 
So not a good idea then, the field could be split size wise, but gets very wet, so wouldn't take electric fencing, I seem fated to have badly drained, stream laden fields, I'll ask my landlord for a flatter field for the winter and pray for a large lottery win, thanks all for your replies
 
Old hessian backed carpet works better, lasts longer and so far as I can tell in the general miasma of wet horse doesn't smell either. Don't use the rubber backed stuff though -its waterproof!
 
I'm in a similar position, first winter in new house so learning where the wet bits are and little money left. We are having a lorry load of wood chip delivered from a local tree surgeon for a nominal fee to see the gateway through the winter. We'll then scrape it all off in the spring and do a proper job.
 
kobi said:
I'm in a similar position, first winter in new house so learning where the wet bits are and little money left. We are having a lorry load of wood chip delivered from a local tree surgeon for a nominal fee to see the gateway through the winter. We'll then scrape it all off in the spring and do a proper job.
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Wood chip makes it worse very quickly! Our YO insists on putting it in our gateways and makes it far worse as rots down and prevents drainage
 
One of the liverys where we are does this, dumps the contents of barrow including all droppings in the gateways, just turns it into a muckheap. Much worse than the mud. Old carpet works much better.
 
Thanks for all your replies, given that the field is so wet, electric fencing is not an option, I can't tension the tape as the posts have nothing to hold into, luckily I know someone refurbing a pub, so carpet should be available, three house moves and a new business in a year have left finances tight, come spring I will sort something more permament out, first job is to renew the fence line, can't see the landlord doing it, come back paid employment, all is forgiven
 
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