Woodchip surface - maintaining it?

[madhector]

What is the best thing to use to maintain a woodchip surface?

Any tips of keeping one looking good? (more to the point - keeping one usable?)



Thanks

 

[zoeshiloh]

Don't touch it!!

If at all possible leave well alone - it is lethal when wet, like riding on an icerink. I can't remember how many times my horse has slipped over in our neighbours arena!

In the long run it is cheaper and safer to buy a slighly more expensive surface - woodchip can take a long time to bed in, and then needs regularly topping up.

 

[madhector]

I wasnt asking whether to have one or not, no choice there Im afraid, just want to know how best to look after it

 

[carthorse]

Ours was fabulous for the first couple of years , apart from a pick up poo and quick raking but now it needs a top up which we can't afford. Only use it now for dressage schooling in good weather.

 

[Booboos]

You should be able to rake it with an upside down gate (not too heavy though) which might help level it out.

 

[Bossanova]

I put up with one at one of my previous yards. It was best when kept very level. The drainage there wasnt great so we got wet spots which I would dig out when possible and replace with dry stuff from the corners.

 

[madhector]

This has had a top up, wondered what I do with it now. I didnt know whether you leveled it/rolled it etc like rubber/sand surfaces

 

[madhector]

The drainage in this is great, fortuently. What did you use to level yours off?

 

[Bossanova]

[ QUOTE ]
This has had a top up, wondered what I do with it now. I didnt know whether you leveled it/rolled it etc like rubber/sand surfaces

[/ QUOTE ]

Definitely level it but dont use a grader. I wouldnt roll it either.

 

[madhector]

Sounds like a plan - thanks

 

[madhector]

Ok - thanks

 

[carthorse]

We just used a couple of planks of wood with tyres on top . Pulled it with our pony and sometimes with our car. Worked fine.

 

[madhector]

Brilliant - thankyou

 

[zoeshiloh]

They use an old pallet with some full water containers on and pull with their 4x4 - levels it out quite well. Was told not to harrow/rake as you bring up all the rotting stuff from the bottom which can make it more slippery.

 

[catembi]

I've got a cushionride which is basically woodchip. I've had it since December 2007 & it was installed 'properly' i.e. with drainage.

Before we got a tractor, I poo picked it as often as poss (horses seem to think it's a toilet & it's log roll rather than fenced) & raked out the track by hand. Now that we've got a tractor, I poo pick & it gets harrowed a couple of times a week.

We've also got a roller & tried rolling it but it all went a bit wrong. Adrian decided that the tractor was another horse to play with, so he went charging about leaping on & off the school & did a load of bronc-ing at one end, so it ended up worse than when we started.

The bit that he didn't bounce about on was better for having been rolled. Hope that helps?

 

[mon]

would you recommend cushionride seriously thinking of it