I’m in CA. Stalls have dirt which does not absorb urine. What do ya’ll think of digging out some dirt and replacing with 10 -12 inches of DG? Ultimately, I want to dig down add rocks and then appropriate layers. Just want something that will be better in the short term (low on funds). Any thoughts? Will be using wood pellets over DG. Thanks for any thoughts.
DG can be easily compacted as hard as concrete. I don’t see that making a very comfy bed. Under wood pellets is another idea, but wouldn’t they get clogged with those fine wood particles quickly and lose ability to drain?
I’ve used DG in both paddocks and stalls. It does pack down pretty hard, and in fact you’ll need to add 24" to get 12" packed. It can also be pretty abrasive (think hock sores) with no bedding over it. Works brilliantly to keep paddocks mud free, especially if you make your paddock higher than the surrounding ones, or at least higher than the area outside the paddocks. The latter will make for happier paddock neighbors.
In some areas of CA other things will be cheaper than DG. DG will be cheaper in some areas. There are also different grades of DG.
I’m thinking that if you don’t create drainage, it will eventually stink from all that urine being absorbed. But I’m no soil engineer. I have rubber mats in my stalls, and we use a small flat snow shovel to scrape all the soaked bedding off the mats daily.
I have DG in my stalls & aisle.
And I bed stalls with wood pellets < shallowly: 3 40# bags when stripped
After 12yrs it has compacted hard as concrete in the stalls, but has not lost the ability to drain. No ammonia smell in the barn. Ever.
Helps that my barn is rarely completely shut up, Dutch doors from stalls to paddock are open year-round.
But even when horses are stalled in Midwest Winter, no problem w/odors.
In the aisle there is still some “give” for the horses - they leave shallow hoofprints. To me it feels like concrete underfoot & is easily swept, can be hosed if needed.
IIRC, excavator put down 9" gravel base with 1’ DG on top.
For what it’s worth, the stalls are very open air, about 12 x 15 feet and the short end is completely open (like a box with the end cut off). The horses come and go as they please. They are locked in at night but that means they are each confined to a stall and 24X12 paddock. Definitely think the DG would be a great idea for the paddocks. I know the DG will pack down in the stalls but since I bed with wood pellets, I am thinking they would be OK- I bed pretty deep. Ideally I’d like to do the stalls with crushed rock, and other appropriate layers and then put either ring mats or 2 x 4’s (skinny side up) spaced 2" apart across the floor- the w 2 x 4 idea was done by another cother (who’s name escapes me now). At present funds are tight so DG may be my interim solution.
Talk to your local materials yard- tell them what you’re trying to do, then ask if they have other horse customers in the area that have used their materials you can talk to.
Asking a lot of questions up front usually pays off! : )
You will find a lot of suggestions but you need to have a experienced person look into it so that you don’t face the problem again and again.
I have always used DG in the stalls and the runs. I get the DG to pack down, and then I put rubber mats on top of the DG in the stalls. Then I add shavings. It drains just fine and with the shavings, it is easy to clean. The horses are comfortable lying down with the rubber mats and shavings.
Put down crushed stone covered with sand and get stall skins (not just rubber mats). Worth every penny. Drain beautifully and saves on shavings.
