Figuring Out Footings
for Horse Paddocks
Part I of a 3 part series
by Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water
The purpose of a footing material is to build up an area to keep your horse in so it’s up out of the mud. Some type of footing material is useful for winter paddocks and confinement areas as well as in high traffic areas such as gates or watering points. By using footing, you decrease the amount of erosion and mud being created as well as allowing for surface water to drain through -- all of which is good for your horse, chore efficiency, and the environment. But what kind of footing is best, how much do you need, and where do you get them? These are the questions we’ll answer in this 3 part series. This month we’ll cover hogfuel footing, next month we’ll talk about gravel products, and in the last of the series we’ll cover what size you should get and how deep you should put it down.
When to get it?
The best advise one can give on footings for paddocks is this: whatever you decide on, get it in the summer! Wood products such as hogfuel are more readily available in the summer months because there is less of a market for wood at these times. Also, during the summer when burn bans are on (or in areas where burning is never allowed) building contractors are often looking for cost effective means to get rid of stump grindings versus taking them to landfills. The other key reason for getting your footing material in the summer is it will be much easier and less hectic getting deliveries in the dry months. Imagine trying to guide a big truck through a rutty pasture and down a slippery hill in the middle of a December winter storm -- all the while competing with the other customers who also waited until the last minute to get their footing!
What types of footings are there?
Although there are many products that can be used for footing, two main types are used in the Northwest: gravel (various types of crushed rock products) and hogfuel. Hogfuel, made from chipped stumps or branches, provides a good surface and good environmental control as well. It is called “hogfuel” because originally, at the paper mills, trees were run through a steam-powered machine called a “hog” or “hogger” which chipped the bark off the outside of the trees. This chipped material was then used as fuel to run the hog, thus the name “hogfuel”.
Hogfuel
Hogfuel is very useful as footing in a horse paddock, both for the horse and the environment. The natural composting process of the wood product contributes to the breakdown of the nitrogen in the horse's urine and manure. This process helps keeps harmful runoffs from being released into the environment. The same process also keeps the confinement area from having any urine or ammonia smell often present in outdoor confinement areas.
Decomposing hogfuel
Since hogfuel is organic, over time it will decompose. What this means is that every year you need to get more -- although probably never as much as the first year’s amount. It also means that after a time you will end up with a build-up of fine, organic material (i.e. more mud). To deal with this, every few years this organic material needs to be removed, either by hand with a shovel or with the aid of a tractor and front loader (depending on the amount). Remove the highly decomposed fine material during the dry months and add it to your compost pile or garden. If you don’t, you will end up with more mud, similar to a situation where the manure in a paddock isn’t picked up.
Stay tuned next month as we talk about different grades of hogfuel, tree trimmings and gravel for footing.
Until next time, good horsekeeping to you.
Alayne Renee Blickle, a life-long equestrian and creator/director of Horses for Clean Water, is an environmental educator working with horse and livestock owners. Contact Alayne by email at ARBlickle@aol.com or visit the HCW website at www.horsesforcleanwater.com.
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Join HCW this fall at the following FREE Events:
KING COUNTY:
Horse Farm Management Series – This fall join HCW in Maple Valley to learn techniques to reduce mud, manage manure, make pastures more productive, and provide for wildlife at the same time. Date/place TBA. Ravensdale, WA FREE! To receive a posting on these events sign up to be on the Horses for Clean Water email listserv at 425-432-6116 or ARBlickle@aol.com.
Free Classes for Livestock Owners – This fall, join the King Conservation District for four FREE workshops on livestock management practices. Learn techniques that will help turn your farm into a more useable place for you, your animals and the environment -- less mud, better pastures & great ways to manage manure! North King County, WA - date & place TBD. For registration or more details call the King Conservation District at 206-764-3410 ext. 120.
Manure Management Options for Horseowners – Stay tuned to hear more about upcoming workshops on great ways to manage manure. This series of workshops will be offered this fall throughout King County, WA, including Vashon Island. To receive a posting on these events sign up to be on the Horses for Clean Water email listserv at 425-432-6116 or ARBlickle@aol.com.
WHATCOM COUNTY:
Open House & Farm Tour - Wednesday, September 17th, 4pm to 7pm. Gear up for a mudless & chore-efficient winter. Visit & view educational stations on mudless confinement areas, pasture management & irrigation systems, composting & manure management, growing fruit trees, electric fencing, sheep health, Border Collie sheep herding demonstrations, raising chickens & more!! Ferndale, WA FREE! Whatcom Conservation District, 360-354-2035 x 3.
Horse Farm Management Classes - Wednesdays, October 22nd to November 12th. Learn techniques to reduce mud, manage manure, make pastures more productive and more! Ferndale, WA FREE! Whatcom Conservation District, 360-354-2035 x 3.
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
Horse Farm Management Workshops - Saturdays, October 25th & November 8th. Learn techniques to reduce mud, manage manure, and make pastures more productive. Jefferson County, WA. FREE!! 360-385-4105 or roselyn-taylor@wa.nacdnet.org.
SAN JUAN ISLANDS:
Horse Farm Management Workshops - Saturday & Sunday, November 15th & 16th. Pasture, Manure & Mud Management Workshops. San Juan Islands, WA FREE!! 360-378-6621 or heatherh@rockisland.com.
