WWYD ? Pea gravel or sand ?

[Beatrice5]

Dare I say it but he seems more comfortable. No news yet from blood test - hopefully should hear tomorrow.

So he is currently in a shavings / sawdust mix deep bed and allowed to wander around his 7 m x 10 m corral in his old macs and 12mm soft comfort pads and he is walking much more comfortably.

I want to put a surface on top of the stones to allow him some more freedom. the area has a very slight slope. Do I use pea gravel (rounded) or course sand. Both cost similar so not really a factor.

Pea gravel is said to be great for supporting recovering feet but would roll away with heavy rain more easily and isn't as nice to lie on and roll in ( or is it?)

Sand can compact down I believe but is more comfortable to lie on and roll in BUT can cause sand colic and if windy blow into eyes?

So what would you do ? I think I need about 6 tonnes to give me 2 inches deep coverage is that enough ?

Many thanks

 

[RobinHood]

I think pea gravel would be difficult to keep clean in a small corral, it's usually considered better in a high traffic area like gateways and water troughs.

I've not seen it myself but apparently crushed oysters shells make a great hoof friendly surface.

 

[becca1305]

I had a turnout pen for my cushings lad behind his stable. Sand (good quality silica sand) compacted quickly to become firm (but area was too small to get arena grader into). I wouldnt have it again unless in area big enough to grade. I considered pea gravel but his was on the back of his stable so it would have gone everywhere, and also I was worried about comfort for them lieing on it. Ive ended up going for concreting it so it can be used for storage (our old boy had to be PTS a while ago), and if ever I have a horse with similar needs I will mat it in comfort rubber matting, though by the sounds of it that probably isn't a suitable option for your horse's needs. Hope that helps a bit.