Posted 2017-11-21 10:37 AM Subject: Muddy pen solutions
Member
Posts: 46
Looking for muddy pen solutions. It's typically dry but when it rains it creates about 4-6in of mud and takes forever to dry out. Looking to have the pen ready to go within a month or so. So far the only solution I've found is to pack existing ground, add 1/2in road base gravel then put coarse sand over it. Any other tips or tricks any of you have had success with before I have gravel brought out? Thanks!
Posted 2017-11-21 11:14 AM Subject: RE: Muddy pen solutions
Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725 Location: SW North Dakota
Cheap and easy solution that may work... Old style french drain in low areas.
Just get an 18" (or bigger) post hole auger and dig a 5-6' deep hole and dump rock in the bottom, then two-inch-minus gravel, then pea gravel, then topsoil if you want it. I did this near the down spouts off my barn and it completely eliminated the mudholes.
It's a 30x30 pen with a small shelter on a downward slope, I've thought about the French drain idea but not too sure if it would work. Also thought about digging some ruts with half pipe laid down prior to the gravel being brought in but I don't want to deal with my gravel washing away causing huge ruts on top. Here in Oklahoma our springs have flash floods and I don't want to risk a leg injury
Ours is slightly downhill it's always been packed and has a gravel base it works great. The only way it gets mucky is from manure pilled in the corners. The gravel gets packed down in the dirt over time and we've never had our horses get sore from it.
It's a 30x30 pen with a small shelter on a downward slope, I've thought about the French drain idea but not too sure if it would work. Also thought about digging some ruts with half pipe laid down prior to the gravel being brought in but I don't want to deal with my gravel washing away causing huge ruts on top. Here in Oklahoma our springs have flash floods and I don't want to risk a leg injury
We only get about 11-13 inches of rain per YEAR here, but they really work great. My east pens off my barn hold water and this has solved the problem.
Muddy pen solutions
