"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message
u...
"Muddy Horse" wrote in message
...
Hello -

I've got a problem with the soil outside a stable getting eroded by the
horses.
Originally the concrete ramp in the pictures below was level with the
field,
but 15 years of horses walking through mud has create a large muddy hole
(about 3 metres square). It's difficult for the horses to get in and out
of
the stable. So far, we have the following ideas:

1) Fill the hole in with compacted soil. Presumably this would have to be
repeated every few years.
2) Extend the concrete ramp with more concrete. This might be hard work
if
DIYed, and expensive if done professionally. Any ideas on how the ramp
should be constructed?
3) Filling the hole with gravel or similar is not acceptable, because it
would injure the horses' feet.
4) Constructing a ramp from wooden sleepers might work, but slipperiness
would be a problem.

Any comments on these ideas, or better ones?

That ramp looks slippery and steeper than I'd like to have round horses
anyway. However without doing anything about the current ramp, I'd
consider making wide shallow steps using 6-8 inch treated pin logs and
back filing behind them on the ramp side and gradually stepping down till
it reaches the level of the field. The steps should act to slow the soil
being eroded although they will take some soil away with each step if the
muddy conditions continue so ag pipe drains in the steps might also help
to remove some water. The logs would have to be long enough so that you
could put stakes to hold them in place well outside anywhere the horses
are likely to tread (but you'd already figured that out). I'd also be
trying to find some sort of mulching material that could be spread cheaply
and readily that won't stick in their hooves - straw comes to mind but
that could get expensive.

Catch the local tree surgeon for wood chip from their chipper.
I have successfully "dried" areas larger than that with the stuff. It's bio
degradable, they don't eat it, it's usually very cheap or free and very easy
to spread.
Have done an area of 200m x 5m that was extremely slippery and rutted, gave
a lovely soft underfoot feel, and a soft landing for anyone that fell or
tripped.
Horses seemed to feel more solid footed rather than slipping around on mud
and into holes full of water too.