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Track Decking Over Mud
Track decking or gravel sidewalk might eliminate the worst mud?
As we've been getting some pre-spring rain here in central New York, I've been giving some thought to what to do about those muddy corners -- well, to be honest the whole Paddock Paradise track can get somewhat muddy; but as we'll be moving somewhere else mid-summer, my thoughts naturally turn to temporary experimental solutions which could be made permanent at out new place.
My idea, and I would love to hear some responses to it, is to build an upside-down deck sidewalk filled with rocks and gravel...
That's it. Has anyone tried it before?
I have some spare 2x6 lumber. The idea is to lay two boards parallel, and attach short pieces across them in an almost-solid deck floor. Then, because the wood could be slippery for the horses and because I would prefer to channel their movement over more gravel, I would
turn these structures upside down and fill the space on top of the decking and between the side boards with rocks and gravel. I'm thinking that it will do a great job of keeping the gravel contained. Because this track decking would be only about 18" (or 46 cm), it might be cost-
effective to build. Although the horses probably wouldn't use it constantly, it would be placed in the most convenient path of travel around the corners, so they would almost certainly use it often out of convenience, saving wear and tear on the ground beside it. Then when it rains,
the gravel path would be very attractive to them, as opposed to the slippery ground (or, let's come out and say it -- sucking mud) they've been negotiating in mud season.
Forgive the lack of pictures -- it's just an idea for now, and almost as though I was directed to write this before the rain would let up, I now look out my front door to see more glorious snow.
JoAnn Johnson
February 12, 2009
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| SpottedTApps | Track decking or gravel sidewalk might eliminate the worst mud? | 1 | Mar 13 2009, 2:11 PM EDT by tangledmanes | ||
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Thread started: Mar 13 2009, 1:45 PM EDT
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TM, I have recently been made aware of a product called "cattle carpet" or "cow carpet." It is used at dairies (where we know they can have the nastiest slop/mud anywhere). It is a thick, woven material, I think not unlike those "stall skins" designed for this purpose. You put it under your surface to keep the mud at bay. There are pictures on the websites if you do a search. I guess that it does not rip and tear with the weight or the hooves of the animals. I was instructed to lay it out, place my dirt or gravel over it by a couple of inches and have at it.
With wood decking I'd be afraid it would rot eventually. Then too you have to think about the fact that you are putting nails and/or screws into the ground. Wood rots away and you now have sharp objects under your horses' feet. We too struggle with mud here. |
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