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Sand or Pea Gravel?

Teri
 

I am seriously considering putting a layer of sand or pea gravel in Stormy's dry lot.  Stormy is a 27yo IR/PPID mini cross. In spite of the best efforts from me and the kind people on this list, I don't seem to be able to get her out of her Soft Rides.  The footing in her lot is ag-lime...packed hard as a rock!  I was hoping that if maybe she had something more forgiving to walk on, I might be able to try her w/o the boots.  I'm hoping for feedback as to what members/moderators prefer...sand or pea gravel...or something else?...before I decide which to get.  

I haven't done her spring blood work yet, but her ACTH was FINALLY under control last Nov? at 17...YAY!!! but it took 14mgs of pergolide to get it there!  Her symptoms seem good so I'm guessing her ACTH is still OK.  Will retest and get new x-rays the first part of May.  


Teri and Stormy

Indy 4-12

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ECHistory5/files/Teri%20Riley/Teri%20Riley%20-%20Indiana

Nancy C
 

Hi Teri

Congrats on your ACTH!

I have both sand and pea stone areas in our dry lot.  Sand is good, but pea gravel is better as evidenced by obvious changes in stride, muscle relaxation, raising of back, etc, while strolling through the pea stone. It's  four to six inches deep.

Having said that, there are times when he will seek out the sand vs the pea stone, just to stand in it. Planning an eventual area for loafing might be a good idea too. If I had to choose one or the other I'd go with pea stone first.

One caution -- if you go with pea stone make sure it is round, natural, washed, screened river bed type stone.  Not crushed.  It can be called by several many differnet terms depending on where you live.  You want it to be round almost  like ball bearings so it will move easily under her foot. Crushed pea stone has sharp edges that does not allow for this necessary feature.Bet to go view the stuff before you buy.

I have some pea stone pics on ECHoof
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ECHoof/photos/albums/1077812522

Nancy C in NH
ECIR Moderator 2003
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---In EquineCushings@..., <teririley@...> wrote :

I am seriously considering putting a layer of sand or pea gravel in Stormy's dry lot. 

Teri and Stormy

Indy 4-12

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ECHistory5/files/Teri%20Riley/Teri%20Riley%20-%20Indiana

 

Kathy Graves
 

Dr. Bowker, who spoke at the "No Laminitis" conference last year said that he uses pea gravel because the horses can angle their feet any way they want to in it.

K. Graves
N. California


On Apr 23, 2014, at 10:39 PM, <teririley@...> wrote:

 

I am seriously considering putting a layer of sand or pea gravel in Stormy's dry lot.  Stormy is a 27yo IR/PPID mini cross. In spite of the best efforts from me and the kind people on this list, I don't seem to be able to get her out of her Soft Rides.  The footing in her lot is ag-lime...packed hard as a rock!  I was hoping that if maybe she had something more forgiving to walk on, I might be able to try her w/o the boots.  I'm hoping for feedback as to what members/moderators prefer...sand or pea gravel...or something else?...before I decide which to get.  

I haven't done her spring blood work yet, but her ACTH was FINALLY under control last Nov? at 17...YAY!!! but it took 14mgs of pergolide to get it there!  Her symptoms seem good so I'm guessing her ACTH is still OK.  Will retest and get new x-rays the first part of May.  


Teri and Stormy

Indy 4-12

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ECHistory5/files/Teri%20Riley/Teri%20Riley%20-%20Indiana



Kathy Graves


Claudia Goodman
 

I have had pea gravel in my corral for about 10 years and highly recommend it. I initially chose it because it was recommended by Pete Ramey. 
I started with sand, but much of it was washed away with the rains and it also became quite dusty. The pea gravel stays put much better and has far less dust. It appears to provide very good support and comfort to their soles, and also helps develop some toughness in the hoof. Maintenance wise, it is easy to pick up manure and water drains through it well. 
Because we live in an area that typically gets very wet in winter, we laid down a geo-fabric before bringing in the footing - the fabric allows water through but keeps the mud below the fabric and the footing above. 

Claudia & Silhouette 2014 California

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/echistory8/files/Claudia%20%26%20Silhouette/


>I am seriously considering putting a layer of sand or pea gravel in Stormy's dry lot.  Stormy is a 27yo IR/PPID mini cross. In spite of the best efforts from me and the kind people on this list, I don't seem to be able to get her out of her Soft Rides.  The footing in her lot is ag-lime...packed hard as a rock!  I was hoping that if maybe she had something more forgiving to walk on, I might be able to try her w/o the boots.  I'm hoping for feedback as to what members/moderators prefer...sand or pea gravel...or something else?...before I decide which to get.


ferne fedeli
 

I have used pea gravel in my pens and the dry lot around the barn for many years also.  I was having trouble obtaining sand the first year I had my horses here at the house and read in some horse magazine that this big stable in Kentucky said that they preferred pea gravel, so I got a few ton delivered and never looked back!  I usually get one delivery of about 5 cubic yards a year in October before the rains start in earnest (not a prob this past year!) and sometimes another delivery during the summer.
Ferne Fedeli
Mendocino County, No. California
4/2010


On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 11:35 AM, <claudiagoodman22@...> wrote:
 

I have had pea gravel in my corral for about 10 years and highly recommend it. I initially chose it because it was recommended by Pete Ramey. 

I started with sand, but much of it was washed away with the rains and it also became quite dusty. The pea gravel stays put much better and has far less dust. It appears to provide very good support and comfort to their soles, and also helps develop some toughness in the hoof. Maintenance wise, it is easy to pick up manure and water drains through it well. 
Because we live in an area that typically gets very wet in winter, we laid down a geo-fabric before bringing in the footing - the fabric allows water through but keeps the mud below the fabric and the footing above. 

>I am seriously considering putting a layer of sand or pea gravel in Stormy's dry lot.  Stormy is a 27yo IR/PPID mini cross. In spite of the best efforts from me and the kind people on this list, I don't seem to be able to get her out of her Soft Rides.  The footing in her lot is ag-lime...packed hard as a rock!  I was hoping that if maybe she had something more forgiving to walk on, I might be able to try her w/o the boots.  I'm hoping for feedback as to what members/moderators prefer...sand or pea gravel...or something else?...before I decide which to get.



Valletta Lochridge
 

Claudia,
 
What kind of geo fabric did you find that would hold up to the horses?  I'd love to incorporate that to keep the clay mud out of the mix!
 
Valletta in central CA
Jan 2012

Claudia Goodman
 

Hi Valletta,
I will find out the specific name of the geo-fabric product that we put in. It's used in some of our state parks on horse trails to slow erosion and it is very strong. Won't tear under hooves, but I've managed to put a few holes in it with my tractor shovel. (Sigh!) And, it still functions well after all these years to keep the soil/mud below, so the pea gravel stays atop. (I do wind up having to replenish the pea gravel every few years... I'd say we lose about 10% each year from hard rain washing some away and that which sticks to the manure.

The guy who trucked in the pea gravel also ordered & installed the fabric, and I'll get more info from him and send it your way as soon as I reach him. 


Claudia & Silhouette 2014 California

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/echistory8/files/Claudia%20%26%20Silhouette/




---In EquineCushings@..., <vallettaloch@...> wrote :

>What kind of geo fabric did you find that would hold up to the horses?  I'd love to incorporate that to keep the clay mud out of the mix!

ferne fedeli
 

Be sure to let us all know what kind of fabric you used to put under the gravel.  We didn't use any when we put the gravel down at my place, but after all these years there isn't too much week growth, etc.  Just a little grass around the sides next to the pastures.

I put some kind of fabric down and put pea gravel in my front yard several years ago.  It didn't work too well, quite a bit of weed growth and now the pieces of fabric are sticking up and it looks really ugly.  I need to do something soon and if there is a better type of the fabric, I'd love to hear about it.
Ferne Fedeli
Mendocino County, No. California
4/2010


On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 8:22 PM, <claudiagoodman22@...> wrote:
 

Hi Valletta,

I will find out the specific name of the geo-fabric product that we put in. It's used in some of our state parks on horse trails to slow erosion and it is very strong. Won't tear under hooves, but I've managed to put a few holes in it with my tractor shovel. (Sigh!) And, it still functions well after all these years to keep the soil/mud below, so the pea gravel stays atop. (I do wind up having to replenish the pea gravel every few years... I'd say we lose about 10% each year from hard rain washing some away and that which sticks to the manure.

The guy who trucked in the pea gravel also ordered & installed the fabric, and I'll get more info from him and send it your way as soon as I reach him. 


---In EquineCushings@..., wrote :


>What kind of geo fabric did you find that would hold up to the horses?  I'd love to incorporate that to keep the clay mud out of the mix!


Goose <domy@...>
 

 

<<<<<The guy who trucked in the pea gravel also ordered & installed the fabric, and I'll get more info from him and send it your way as soon as I reach him. >>>>>

 

We have had good luck using geotextile or "Cow Carpet" as an underlay. You can order from construction supply or even ebay / amazon. If you have construction companies in your area that build road infrastructures (road beds, ponds) they often have partial rolls they might be willing to part with at a discount.  Might be worth the phone call.

 

 

What size pea gravel did you use? (Standard sizes are 1/4", 1/2" and 5/8" dia)?  I am thinking (actually guessing) that the smallest size would be most comfortable to the horses but would also suffer the most from erosion? Could some of you with experience  offer any advice on this?

 

thanks,

Sherry / Boaz / Bugsy

Florida

 

 

skylane@...
 

If there's sufficient amount of product on top of the geo fabric, people, horses, tractors and cats shouldn't be a problem.... digger dogs... well... I just don't know.. lol

Michael~
aka Mike & Spike
San Jose, Ca
Oct, 10

Claudia Goodman
 

Valletta,
So sorry it took me this long to get back to you. I had to take a sample of my fabric to the guy who installed it so he could tell me the precise name of the material, and it took until today to do that. It's called "stabilization cloth" (possibly stabilizing cloth). 
I guess the other terms I remembered are more generic... It is not "filter fabric", which I believe is one of the terms I used.That is quite different, and not as strong. He did not know the manufacturer name. It's a tightly woven, flat, plastic mesh. It's tough and it keeps the soil below it and lets the rain drain through. I have a few inches of pea gravel over it. Highly recommend - mine is still fine after 12 years.

Claudia & Silhouette 2014 California

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/echistory8/files/Claudia%20%26%20Silhouette/



Horsegal4683@...
 

FarmTek sells a non-woven "underliner," to quote the catalog, "constructed from 8 oz. gray non-woven fabric with 100% staple polyester and polypropylene." It is recommended for cattle and horses, for stables and paddocks and around water troughs. www.FarmTek.com. 1-800-327-6835.
 
We had so much mud during our very cold and wet winter here in Virginia, I am thinking of ordering this product to construct a mud-free dry paddock for year-round use.
 
Joyce
Virginia/April 2014
 
In a message dated 5/2/2014 11:41:24 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, claudiagoodman22@... writes:

 

Valletta,

>So sorry it took me this long to get back to you. I had to take a sample of my fabric to the guy >who installed it so he could tell me the precise name of the material, and it took until today to do >that. It's called "stabilization cloth" (possibly stabilizing cloth). 
 

Claudia & Silhouette 2014 California

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/echistory8/files/Claudia%20%26%20Silhouette/



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