preventing mud holes in the barn door.

[Talithahorse]

I was wanting to find out what others use to keep the ground in good shape near the barn where the horses come in and out of the stalls. Our barn when we built it was not sloped properly and in the doorways to the stalls (where the horses have constant access) eroded away and left a big hole. The horses seemed to navigate it without problem until about 2 weeks ago when my 35 year old Percheron/ TB mare slipped going in and fell down into the hole. It took us almost 3 hours and heavy equipment to get her out of the hole. Tragically she was never able to stand back up and passed away after trying her heart out to stand up. I am completely heartbroken as she was my first horse and we did everything together. If you could do it with a horse, we did it. As a result I have closed up that side of the barn completely until I can get the holes filled and the land properly graded. I NEVER want to deal with this again and as such want to know what the best thing to do to make sure it doesn't erode away again. Concrete, gravel, sand, clay? I am at a loss. Any ideas?

 

[Zoomie]

Oh wow, I am SO sorry... that is awful!

Well, I think it depends on what's available. What I do here is use a decomposed granite. It's available in some of the local pits. They use it for roads, and even though it looks all fluffy at first, it compacts really hard. It also does not get muddy, so it's good stuff. However I have no idea if it's available in your area.

The other thing I can suggest is a rubber mat! We went to Tractor Supply and bought two of them because I've got a miniature horse who paws really a lot when she's waiting to be fed, and she had actually dug a hole that was so deep that when she went to paw in her "spot" her belly touched the level ground. She also paws right next to her feeder. We filled in the holes and put the rubber mats on top, now it's not a problem any more. She can paw all she wants!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We use gravel but it needs to be topped off yearly. Sorry you lost your horse, especially that way. I had a POA percheron mix mare, she was the best most gentle horse ever. Sorry.

 

[Talithahorse]

Thank you. I will look into the decomposed granite. Your POA/ Perch sounds like a fun combo. My girl was a Percheron/ TB cross that I rescued over 25 years ago. She was smart and would do anything. We rode trails, did dressage, pole bending, jumping, jousting, ring tilting, camping, parades, exhibitions, Perelli, obstacle courses, etc. She even taught Girl Scouts how to ride. She was a great girl. I have used rubber mats on the other side of the barn but the slope wasn't as bad. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I had to put my big girl to sleep in 2012, she was 30. I brought her into the world and watched her leave. She was the best horse ever, and my last horse.

Yours sounded as smart as mine was. I mostly rode bareback and she was a beautiful lawn ornament for the last 10 years of her life. She was that one horse for me.

 

[Talithahorse]

 

[Talithahorse]

I am sorry for your loss. Sheba was my beloved one. She has graced my field retired for the last 6 years since a shoulder injury at 29 when she forgot she was not a youngster. I loved riding her bareback as she was very smooth. I have had other horses come, retire and cross rainbow bridge but I have never been as devastated over a loss as I have with her. It has been two weeks and I still can't sleep. I guess maybe night time is hard since I stayed with her until she passed around 4 am in the morning with a million stars overhead.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Oh she was gorgeous. I love the percheron head and the TB body.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I still cry over mine, so sorry, I understand.

Mine was called Tequila.

 

[Talithahorse]

Tequila was beautiful. I have a soft spot for greys