Wood Chips for small T/O area?

[longdog]

I have a horse & pony on 1 acre paddock. What are peoples thoughts/experiences on using wood chip for a turnout area about 15x18m to try & save the paddock from being too trashed. We are on clay soil

 

[Fahrenheit]

We have one 15 x 15m, the woodchips are good but you need to make sure you have drainage underneath, similar to an arena.

 

[only_me]

We have a wood chip area, it used to be just hard core (stones) until we had some trees that fell over and were thrown into a chipper, so the wood chip was put over the stones.

Its great!

 

[hayinamanger]

I have found that wood chip is great at first, I was SO pleased with it. BUT after a few months, they rot, the area is waterlogged and never dries out, leaves a complete mess. I'd go for sand next time.

 

[kirstyl]

We have one 15 x 15m, the woodchips are good but you need to make sure you have drainage underneath, similar to an arena.

Agree with this - decent drainage is essential or you will end up with a bog! We've just had our woodchip run dug out, drainage done and surface relaid and it's springy and lovely now!

 

[Coop]

Following on from this, we have just had an area done with hardcore to feed on (only taken nealr ten years!), its a bit rough in places for them to stand on yet and have considered wood chip, or would the small pea shingles be better to fill in the gaps, then flattened with the whacker plate? Either that or a load of mot type 1?

 

[kerilli]

fwiw i did a new small all-weather turnout area this year, fixed down a layer of scrounged rubbish carpet (free) with big overlaps where necessary, and then took some sand & rubber surface off my arena (which has too much surface anyway tbh) and put that on. it's been used daily for a few months now and is standing up to it perfectly well.
woodchips break down fast and go really soggy, tbh i wouldn't bother.