As an update, I did use fabric under it and it is amazing. Yes expensive but worth it.
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so for me, the question is, do we put it in now? Or wait until the wet season to know where we need it most?
Depends on when your wet season is?? Mine is now so we put it in in Oct. After some rain to soften the ground but before it was a quagmire.
I am in Florida, straight up drought right now…but summer is SOOO Wet
Mmmm. From my experienced, trying to dig in drought is miserable, which is why we waited until we had a rain fall (but still no where near wet season). In another thread I posted all the progress pics. We used a mini-x to dig down five inches or so, placed the fabric, placed the lighthoof, and filled with 5/8- before using a plate compactor to tamp. I have a lot of clay and rock, if you have sand then digging now might be ok? But I know there are pockets of clay running through the south too…
haha no clay here…just black silty dirt with some sand
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I just did a paddock door area about 12 x 14’ with these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D3P7GZU
Free Prime shipping which helpe!
They are the shorter grids and cost just over $2/SF.
We dug out/evened the native soil and then compacted it to drain with about a 2% slope out of the pen. Next was a layer of geotextile (basic cheap stuff) to keep the yucky clay soil from creeping into our nice surface.Then in went the grids which was fast, they are 24" squares and snap/lock together quickly. Lastly we filled the grids with what we call birdseye gravel, about 1/4" or smaller rounded gravel. The grids are framed with railroad ties so they can’t shift around.
So far, this is working fantastic! The horse’s paddock/gate area is flat, dry, and comfortable for him to stand around on.
We are going to try a test with a patch of this material under our hot walker… it might work great to keep it draining and dry. My only concern is could a horse’s shoe snag the grid and pull it up… but the horse who lives on it sure hasn’t snagged it. He doesn’t paw, but is on it all the time, cruising about.
Seems like these grids should cost less because they are just molded from recycled plastic… alas they are pricey.
But I’m impressed with how they work in one application so far, and will try additional uses, including the hot walker test and some additional paddock gate areas.
@Miss Motivation I just looked into that the other day vs Hoof Grid or Lighthoof. It is appealing to not have to excavate for the Lighthoof but it will build the surface up higher than I’d like and would probably be comparable in price. Glad to have your detailed account with the TrueGrid. Dupont makes a version of the Lighthoof for a bit cheaper and it’s also sold on Amazon. I’ve contemplated that as well. Have to use the small grid vs large for paddock purposes.
I know many people say they do well with fabric and stone alone but I just envision the pitting caused by horse hooves in the wet season to eventually churn up the fabric and then what a nightmare to fix!! Anyone have any input in favor or against fabric and stone alone?
We started with just fabric and stone and it worked fantastic while I had just a retired gelding and his mini mule friend. Then I bought the 2 year old warmblood. That dug. And he got everyone else to dig. It was their project to dig down to the geotextile and lick it. They didn’t tear the fabric up at first, just licked it, but eventually an edge was in reach, so that provided even more entertainment (pulling up fabric, tearing it…).:mad: I didn’t have mud, but I had messes, and it was a nightmare.
So we redid one and a half paddocks in Hoof-Grid and it has worked fantastic. If I could afford it, I would have the stuff everywhere here. I’m contemplating doing the yard just to keep my Jack Russells from digging it up (kidding…well, I seriously would consider it if I could justify the cost!). I’m in the wet NW and when my farrier comes to my place this time of year, he marvels that my horses actually have frogs. They haven’t rotted away in the wet.
Fabric and stone can work for some, but wasn’t for me – even now, I have one section that is not gridded and the 18 year old warmblood will still dig down to the fabric. To lick it. :rolleyes: Yes, he has a salt block!
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LOL. That’s hysterical but also not funny at all. Horses…
Out of my 3 horses + 1 mini donkey, I do not have any diggers but that could change with time/additions. It seems like it would be best and most cost effective to just do a grid right off the bat vs potentially having to do both in the end. Convincing my non-horsey husband that this is a necessity (+ renovating the arena…) is always fun! :rolleyes: Who else has that problem? I feel like all I read on COTH are significant others who are all on board with these horse wants/needs! Mine is supportive yet doesn’t “get it” but then I question how many fly rods does one person really need? 
I usually lose that cost comparison. :lol:
I wonder how much of a premium these sorts of products carry because of the horse on the website…
Is this stuff any less? https://www.landscapediscount.com/Ground-Grid-DuPont-p/DPGG-5055.htm
How about the other products here? https://www.landscapediscount.com/gravel-pavers-s/1922.htm
These? https://www.landscapediscount.com/BodPave-85-s/1931.htm
Really interesting site to dig around on!
Can you drive over this with a large truck or tractor? We’re thinking of making a sacrifice pen between two pastures. TIA!
Yes, I installed some in gate areas last fall and have driven over it many times with my tractor. It has not affected the panels at all. They have done a good job, I am going to install some more this year. We did two gate areas in half a day including prep work, it was fairly easy. I used 2 panels per gate (one side only where the horses stand waiting for meals!).
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