Horse track - how to construct

[The Ruminant]

We've a livery yard which, at the moment, shares a public walkway. Given the potential dangers we're looking to put in a new track solely for the horses. It goes up a relatively steep hill for probably 50 yards. What would be the best material to construct this out of, given that a loose covering may just wash away or work its way downhill and a hard (say concrete) path may get slippy in winter.

Any experience / ideas / thoughts? Thanks

 

[Daddy Pig]

I would use 6F5, packs down well and big enough not to wash out.

 

[S J H]

Bark? And keep refilling?

 

[PSQ]

Bark? And keep refilling?

+1, at least you can plough the bark in when the cuddies have gone, and return it to agricultural use.

 

[The Ruminant]

+1, at least you can plough the bark in when the cuddies have gone, and return it to agricultural use.

Thanks for the suggestion. This was my first thought too but it’s steep - within a month it would have been pushed down the bank, I fear, leaving a muddy mess. It’s also let out to a 3rd party to run so we want to do something once and do it well then it’s their responsibility. We don’t want to be returning every so often to repair the track.

It’s also unlikely to ever be anything other than equine / horse paddocks, just due to location and terrain so reverting back to agriculture on this particular area isn’t likely.

 

[The Ruminant]

I would use 6F5, packs down well and big enough not to wash out.

Never heard of it but have looked it up and it looks like the kind of stuff we need. Will the stones cause problems for the horses feet? What depth would you suggest?

 

[Dry Rot]

Never heard of it but have looked it up and it looks like the kind of stuff we need. Will the stones cause problems for the horses feet? What depth would you suggest?

Sharp stones would be my concern. I use pea gravel for the floor in the field shelter (small smooth pea sized round pebbles) which works but I think it would move on a slope.

 

[Daddy Pig]

6" should be fine, I've used it here and no problems with sharp stones but just as important it's nice and grippy for both horses and people, I did try topping it with road planning's but after a few years they have washed away so may as well not have bothered

 

[RhysT]

How about going down the areana surface routes that racehorse trainers use? I can advise on that.

 

[KennyO]

You can get plastic mesh stuff to hold the stone in place. I think solway plastic do it.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

if it's so steep could you not step it

 

[Lazy Sod]

Or make it zig zag.

 

[The Ruminant]

How about going down the areana surface routes that racehorse trainers use? I can advise on that.

Sounds interesting, could you expand on what it is and how it works on slopes. Thanks

 

[The Ruminant]

if it's so steep could you not step it

This is an option if all else fails.

 

[wilber]

Spotted this a couple of weeks ago. Recycled carpet.

http://www.potters.co.uk/leighton-farm-surfaces.html

 

[RhysT]

We sell pretty much the same product.

 

[drainageman]

Concrete sleepers is what we’ve put down for a lot of racing yards

 

[Derky]

We have used plastic crates on a driveway then filled with gravel with good success, just stops the material shifting. Put this with a zig zag to lessen the slope.