How to Keep Your Horse Paddock Mud Free - FOREVER!

If you want to keep your horse's paddock or run mud free, this is the video you need to watch. Seriously, I will show you how to keep your horse paddock mud free - forever!
I hate mud. I really do. It's hard on my horse's legs, it stinks, and it's just not very much fun to have to deal with. I am not a fan of mud at all. And for the past couple of weeks - ever since I brought my two new equine friends home, it has been raining almost every single day. This isn't normal for where I live at all, and my turnouts that are attached to the horse's stalls were definitely not ready to handle all of the water. So their pens went from dry to 6-inch deep mud in a couple of days.
I have never dealt with muddy conditions like this before. Have you had to deal with muddy paddocks? Not much fun, is it?
Well, with the help of my husband, we came up with an affordable solution to keep our horses paddocks mud free - forever! well, I hope forever! Since we did our paddock makeover, it has rained several times and I am happy to report, the mud has not returned and I am so happy about that. I think my horses are happier too!
I have to give a shout-out to Ewing Landscaping Materials in Elizabeth, Colorado - they are a great company to work with!
ewinglandscape...
If you want to improve your paddocks yourself, these are the steps:
1. Remove as much of the mud, or wet ground that you can
2. Add a base layer of gravel and dirt about 6 inches deep
3. Compact the base layer
4. Add squeegee or tiny gravel - we did about 2 inches
5. Compact the squeegee layer
6. Enjoy your new mud-free pens!
And now, I have to get to work on my riding arena - the rain has pretty much washed away any topsoil or sand that I had. So back to the drawing board of fixing my arena because I have a horse that needs a job!
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[@user-wj1hg1lp8l]

Your place is gorgeous..and your husband is a keeper..can't wait to hear about your new boys..thanks for rescuing

[@BudgetEquestrian]

Thank you so much! After the little experience I have had with adopting horses from a rescue - oh my goodness, I had no idea about all of the horses out there in need - I am so happy to have these 2 sweet animals in my life. I think I have a new mission to promoting rescues.

[@tracyjohnson5023]

@@BudgetEquestrianour rescue is called triple R Bar in upper East Tennessee.

[@dizzysdoings]

I rent a field. When I first moved my horses into it, I had a major problem with mud. I was lucky. I just borrowed the owner's tractor and scraped the area down a few inches before I hit a harder layer. Haven't had a problem since. There are other areas of the farm where the mud gets so deep it can pull boots off your feet. And, I'm sure if any of the horses were shod, it would put the shoes off of them.

[@BudgetEquestrian]

The power of mud is astounding - and frustrating! But tractors - incredible tools!

[@tracyjohnson5023]

For those without a tractor, most areas have equipment rental stores. Many even offer delivery and pickup if you don't have a truck. Unless you have tractor experience, I'd advise renting a mini bobcat or skid steer. They still have the front end loader, but they're stand ons with joy stick type controls. Small learning curve. Not comfy diy? You can usually find a business that comes and does the excavating work for you, sometimes not much more cost than rental and diy.

[@rosieride8410]

Yeah for then new far babies look forward to meeting them. Yep I here ya on the mud winter here and I board my boy but it's a paddock only. Your hubby is right need a foundation before laying rock. When I have my own farm one day plan on having all laneways High Traffic areas and troughs made for mad prevention

[@Willowtree53]

Great video and your horses and pony look so comfortable now!

[@susandhargrove9184]

I agree. I hate mud! We have had cold blast then rain so yes my 29 yo Paint horse has an awful muddy paddock! Any tips,are great.

[@cherylstone7256]

Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🎉 very happy u have new horse babies

[@lisag5085]

Thanks Lisa! I will be interested in updates on the new rock - I have huge mud problems every winter! The new boys are gorgeous! Have you ridden yet?

[@BudgetEquestrian]

So far so good with the pens - we have had 2 more downpours of inches of rain - and the pens are still fantastic - I am so happy! And yes - I have been riding Timon! It is so exciting to have a horse that I can ride and not worry! It's amazing! I can't wait to share this with you!!!!

[@Sjlequestrian]

You’re back!!!!

[@pamelawerdmullervonelgg1888]

Great info! Thank you!! Now to find that squeegeerock!

[@sand4sale697]

Most people that we know use Granite or River Rock Crusher Fines to control mud. It's not magic material, but it's absorbent, and doesn't get muddy, Pea Gravel isn't absorbent (it's rock) and depending where you purchase your materials, Crusher Fines are much less expensive that Pea Gravel.

[@chrismaynard5609]

Helpful! Yeah on rescue!!!! Thanks!

[@chelseazarate189]

Id kill to have mud like that 😂 I have cohoctaw silt that is belly deep. Geotextile fabric, French drains, you name it nothing alleviates it except pouring a concrete slab

[@Brett_Nebraska]

Can you feed them piles of hay ir alfalfa flakes on top of this gravel or will they eat the gravel if this was attempted??

[@Willowtree53]

Thanks!

[@BudgetEquestrian]

Oh my goodness! Thank you!

[@humanity941]

hi from australia raining here to as its winter

[@nmelkhunter1]

Live in the high desert of New Mexico? 🤠 All kidding aside, you have a beautiful place.

[@Chrissywalters]

Hi 🙂 3 months on, are you still happy with it? Any issues? I'm considering following this idea. Also, what is it like to muck out? Do the tiny stones get stuck in the poo? I also love your open stables, and plan to do the same. Any advice/issues that you find, having this setup?

[@horsegal3358]

I worry about those small rocks getting wedged into the hoofs?

[@tracyjohnson5023]

They don't as long as you use fine chat, often referred to as fine crush and run. It's about the same as chat used in riding arenas. You can also get larger grade and put it down first. Then add a mist of water, rent a compactor and go over it. Then put the fine grade crush run over that without compacting. It will eventually compact down somewhat, but not hard like concrete. For areas that tend to stay muddy too like in front of gates and run-in sheds, you can do the same thing. Of course, rubber or plastic mud grids with crush/run packed into them are the best, you can buy heavy duty contractor grade black landscape fabric definitely cheaper than grids. You just remove mud, compact the ground, lay the fabric down, then put larger crush down with fine on top or you can skip the larger. Bonus, no weeds or grass growing there and still allows water to run off. You also have to know your geographic area and what type of soil you have. That has a lot to do with what will work best and be most cost/labor effective. I have red clay here. Hard as rock when dry and it does ok with some rain, but lots of rain, it's a sticky, slick mess. Lastly, it helps immensely if you can grade the mud pit areas into a slight slope so rain has a better chance of draining off. French drains can help, but I've never had them work well after a month in a heavy use area where horses and/or equipment goes in and out daily. You can't let dirt, rock or anything compact over them as it stops the drain holes up. Essentially you have to work the ground up on top of them daily to keep them working and I've got enough to do lol. Hope this helps somebody.

[@stevemccabe3272]

Tell me more about the squeegee rock?

[@Charlenestrunk30]

Yes, but that “mud” is the top layer of your ground??? We already have low spots. I would hate to get rid of more??

[@Conny226]

What about cleaning up poop on this rock

[@sharmanklinefelter508]

try road base

[@chadwickaren]

Where did you put all the mud?

[@robertbutler8004]

It should have been an automatic decision for your husband to help you.

[@conniewhite9434]

This is taking too long to get to the point