Horse Farming Question: Mud management, Drainage & Gravel?
by Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water

It looks like we’re heading into one of our typical Pacific “Northworst” winters with lots of rain, rain and more rain. Plus, there’s the wind and those long, dark nights. I recently received the following question and since it’s a good one for this time of year I would like to share this with NWHS readers.

QUESTION:

I intend to bring my horses to this property, but first my landlord and I would like to improve the paddock. We'd like to get your advice on the best materials to put down.

The paddock is about 25'x28'. We plan to scrape out the mud with his tractor until we get down to hard, packed earth. He was then going to dig a couple trenches, put in some drainpipe, then put gravel on top of that. I suggested using 5/8" gravel, approximately 9-12," then a couple inches of sand on top of that.

There is some concern that it may not drain well once the sand packs down into the gravel. Would it be better to use round rocks, or larger sized crushed gravel? Do you have any resources you could point me to, or any advice you could offer?

Thanks so much!
Julie
Via the Internet

ANSWER:

Hi Julie. How nice that your potential horse-boarding property has a landlord willing to work with you on improvements for both your horse and the environment.

Good idea to scrape out the organic material BEFORE you bring in new footing. Otherwise all that expensive new footing is likely to sink into the mud, wasting money and effort.

On the trenches and drainpipe -- I do NOT recommend putting drains INSIDE your paddock for two very important reasons; first, they won't last. A high traffic area will quickly break down the sides of a trench, collapsing it and washing sediments into the drainpipe which will eventually clog it. Second, inside the paddock the drainpipe will be collecting dirty water (with nutrients and sediments from mud and manure). Taking dirty water below the surface puts you at risk for contaminating your own ground water (and potentially your drinking water). Underground drains (such as French drains or interceptor lines) should intersect and carry away clean water BEFORE it enters your paddock and creates a mud problem. Look outside the paddock to see where the water is coming from and deal with it there. Is it running down a hill towards your place? Are gutters and downspouts on buildings in place and diverting water away from the paddocks?

Your 5/8" gravel plan sounds good. I recommend gravel (crushed rock) sized 3/8” to 5/8”, usually 3 to 6 inches deep. Twelve inches might be overkill, depending on your situation. Anything smaller then 3/8” won’t drain well. Horses usually find anything larger then 5/8” inch uncomfortable to stand or walk on.

I am not a fan of sand. Studies show that sand drains very poorly. Plus, there are horse health issues associated with sand. Horses track sand everywhere, like into their stalls. If they eat on it they risk ingesting it, which can lead to a deadly digestive problem called sand colic. Plus, sand migrates – a real problem is you have any kind of slope to your property. I am just not a fan of sand paddocks for horses and would recommend staying with just the 5/8" gravel.
On the round rock, usually called drain rock when it is washed and sized, I usually don’t recommended it either. Round rock tends to roll and will migrate out of a paddock. Anything round in a horse paddock will usually be a mushy footing, a bit like walking on beach sand, and can cause soft tissue injuries if it’s deep.

Good for you for asking about resources. I always recommend getting an outside opinion when working on a big project such as yours. Taking advantage of professional advice can save you hundreds of dollars and many hours of labor. I am available for consultations and anyone is welcomed to contact me to find out more about my rates and services. Conservation districts are another resource available. CDs (which are not part of county government) are non-regulatory, non-enforcement agencies that offer free technical assistance and education. There is a conservation district in every county in the nation. They can help with specifics on pasture, manure and mud management, as well as other natural resource issues. To contact the conservation district in your area see my chart on the Horses for Clean Water website at http://www.horsesforcleanwater.com/links/washingtoncds.html. 

Good luck with your new place for your horse this winter and good horse keeping to you!

Alayne

Upcoming Horses for Clean Water Events…

KING COUNTY:
Caring for Your Horse and His Home Are you new to horse ownership or do you have children who want a horse? Do you know what the regular health, dental and shoeing needs are for horses? Would you like to learn about shelter requirements and horse-safe fencing? Then join HCW for this weekend workshop geared for novice horse owners. Topics include horse behavior, horse & handler safety, planning your horse facility, how to buy a horse, nutrition & feeding, taking vital signs, and pasture, manure & mud management. The workshop will be taught at Alayne Blickle’s demonstration farm using real horses for hands-on portions. 10am to 3:30 pm, Saturday & Sunday, January 8th & 9th, 2005. Maple Valley, WA. To register or for more information contact Alayne@horsesforcleanwater.com or 425-432-6116.

WHIDBEY ISLAND:
The HCW Horse Farm Management Series Plan now to join Alayne Blickle & HCW on Whidbey Island in March 2005 for the full 5-week series. Learn great ways to care for your horse while reducing mud, managing manure, getting rid of weeds, making pastures productive, controlling insects – and more. Bayview Cash Store Community Meeting Room, Langley, WA. Tuesday evenings 6:30 – 9pm, March 1st to 29th. To register or for more details contact the Whidbey Island Conservation District at 360-678-4708 or whidbeycd@coupeville.net.