Anybody have any experience with this?
https://www.lighthoof.com/product/lighthoof-panels/
G.
I do not have direct experience, but looked at them to complete our dry paddock area. I already have Hoof-Grid on about 2/3 of my paddocks by the barn, and would use that again but our local dealer no longer carries it. Shipping can be a big part of the expense, so I explored using the Lighthoof to finish the rest of the paddocks. In talking to them, my horses’ tendency to dig came up and they advised me that the Lighthoof could be damaged by such activity. So that was the end of that! The hard stuff like Hoof-Grid stands up and unless you don’t install it correctly, digging won’t damage it. I didn’t want to spend that much $$ and all the effort to install and then find out that it wouldn’t hold up.
There is another very similar material from Dupont that is marketed for general soil stabilization (not specifically horse) so it is considerably cheaper and I’ve considered putting that down on some pathways and the like (not in paddocks where they would be dug up/abused). Our local parks department has installed it for slope stabilization on some river banks and similar areas so I got a chance to see it being put in and it looks pretty interesting.
Is this the product?
https://www.agriculturesolutions.com/products/agricultural-fabrics/geotextiles-soil-stabilization/geogrid-soil-reinforcement
The thing I liked about the light hoof was that I could use it on sloping/uneven ground.
How do these compare cost-wise and usefulness to fabric covered with rock? Like this: https://www.agriculturesolutions.com/products/agricultural-fabrics/drainage-filtration-and-weed-fabric/srw-nw4-non-woven-4oz-drainage-and-filtration-fabric-6-x-300-detail
Are they better? Does the cost saving come in using less rock? Is it better because they are more permeable?
[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;8469820]
Is this the product?
https://www.agriculturesolutions.com/products/agricultural-fabrics/geotextiles-soil-stabilization/geogrid-soil-reinforcement
The thing I liked about the light hoof was that I could use it on sloping/uneven ground.
How do these compare cost-wise and usefulness to fabric covered with rock? Like this: https://www.agriculturesolutions.com/products/agricultural-fabrics/drainage-filtration-and-weed-fabric/srw-nw4-non-woven-4oz-drainage-and-filtration-fabric-6-x-300-detail
Are they better? Does the cost saving come in using less rock? Is it better because they are more permeable?[/QUOTE]
Not sure if this was directed to me or OP - the dupont version that I mentioned is this one (two different cell sizes). Not as thick as the Lighthoof but I think it would work well for paths and such. Not suggesting it for paddocks or horse intense areas as I don’t know how it would hold up.
As for rock and fabric – those can work great and many people are happy with it. We originally went that route – non woven geotex topped with gravel. Worked well, but I had a digger. Since I’m in the NW and have to use my gravel paddocks by the barn most of the winter, filling holes got real old real fast. So we put in the Hoof-Grid. Very happy with that. Can’t say it saved any money since we already had gone the fabric/gravel route and put the Hoof-Grid on top of that. But not having to fill holes or listen to my SO gripe about the holes made it worth every penny!
That is interesting to know about the Lighthoof and digging. I have been pondering that as a future project to make nicer runs off of stalls (well, one stall for now) since I am on a bit of a slope. Current horse doesn’t dig, but who knows for when we add that second stall and a second horse.
So many things to think about and consider!
Two things make me wary of the Lighthoof product. The first is that you have to put geo-tech fabric down first. On flat areas the geo-tech fabric works beautifully all by itself (to prevent mud) when you put stonedust over top of it at a depth of 4 inches. I have an entire sacrifice paddock that is mud free, done in this manner. Occasionally I do have to add more stone dust but that is normal maintenance.
Putting geo-tech fabric down and then putting down the Lightfoot and THEN adding stonedust/gravel is really overkill on flat ground. Waste of $$$.
The second problem I have with Lightfoot is the material its made of. Non-rigid innertube tire rubber??? That’s what it looks like. In order to fill the cells with material you would have to be extremely careful NOT to collapse the sides of the cells–might be a nightmare trying to keep them all upright. One shovelful of stone dust is heavy! Will knock the cell sides right over if you make a mistake.
Also, since stonedust does breakdown (into dust over time) plus it compresses, I can just see the tops of this flimsy rubber material begingn to show and then get worn away by hooves-- get raggedy looking, etc. On a slope this would happen more readily. Also a harrow could catch on one of the exposed cells and might pull the whole darn thing up out of the ground. This product just doesn’t seem heavy enough to stay put unless it’s on a slope with NO horse traffic.
But-- since I have no experience with this particular product–I could of course be wrong. I have only used a product called Hoofgrid. Works really well as a base inside my run-in sheds.
[QUOTE=danacat;8472836]
The second problem I have with Lightfoot is the material its made of. Non-rigid innertube tire rubber??? That’s what it looks like. In order to fill the cells with material you would have to be extremely careful NOT to collapse the sides of the cells–might be a nightmare trying to keep them all upright. One shovelful of stone dust is heavy! Will knock the cell sides right over if you make a mistake. [/QUOTE]
I don’t believe it is flimsy or easily collapsible on a vertical plane. If you watch the installation video they are shown standing on the empty cells to spread the gravel, and the instructions say to dump the load of gravel directly onto the panel.
I key with any of these cells is to compact them well. E.G to rent one of those vibrating compactors from a tool rental place. Remember though mud is only a symptom of the key problem which is ether run off or simply not enough drainage. What is your land like do you have any kind of water control areas ditches culverts ect. It may be also its just the shear amount of rain your getting than in that case mud might just have to be a thing. Land stabilizers do help though.
[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;8469820]
How do these compare cost-wise and usefulness to fabric covered with rock? Like this: https://www.agriculturesolutions.com/products/agricultural-fabrics/drainage-filtration-and-weed-fabric/srw-nw4-non-woven-4oz-drainage-and-filtration-fabric-6-x-300-detail
Are they better? Does the cost saving come in using less rock? Is it better because they are more permeable?[/QUOTE]
That will depend on the cost of rock in your area and trucking, too.
[QUOTE=Mosey_2003;8475096]
That will depend on the cost of rock in your area and trucking, too.[/QUOTE]
No what I’m getting at is if it is $x per ton hauled do you still come out ahead? These grid products all require rock and some require base, so I’m wondering if they use significantly less rock than you would use if you were just putting down fabric and then gravel or not.
I’m glad I saw this thread. I have an area about 8’ wide and maybe a total of 30-40’ long where my big pasture meets the barn pasture, at a gate.
The bad thing about it is it’s sloped in 2 directions - towards and across the barn plane.
This is an area through which the horses might run like wild fools,and frequently do, so I need something that will stand up to that. I’m really, really tired of all the mud created when it rains or snows in colder weather, where it is around forever, then freezes into Mt Rainer-sized pockets.
Thoughts on any of the products listed in this thread for that?
I’m bumping this up in case someone out there has any experience with this product or input to add on the topic …
I am considering buying one panel and trying it at the base of the hill next to one of my gates. Huge runoff. Steep slope.
I have fallen in love with another product: TerraTame2
It’s basically a “stall mat” but perforated. I have a sample here. It’s sturdy, thick, tough, and not slippery.
It’s a completely different animal than the Light Hoof. The Lighthoof has some height (maybe 4 inches?) and you have to pack those holes with gravel or something, and you have to keep them packed.
The TerraTame is maybe 3/8 of an inch thick. You could lay it right on top of the worn spot. There is no height to fill. If grass can grow there, it would easily grow up between the holes (much smaller than the Light Hoof). If it’s an area where grass can’t grow, it can still work like a stall mat with ventilation.
I’m not sure if it would prevent mud, but it would prevent the ground surface from being worn away and destroyed (which causes mud), and it would discourage the horses from peeing in that spot. (Mine don’t like to pee on a mat.)
A 6.5 x 65 TerraTame mat is $860. A 6 x 12 LightHoof panel is $199. The TerraTame is a bit cheaper, but not by much. But it is a different kind of product.
I’d worry about the heel of a shoe getting caught in that TerraTame, just from looking at the photo. But I haven’t seen it in person.
So I just ordered some of this to test out:
http://www.footingsolutionsusa.com/arena-base-drain-grid/
Honestly I am at the end of my barn project and money is tight, so when I priced out all the “mud grid” type products this came in the least expensive and appears to serve the same purpose as the others (Lighthoof, Hoofgrid). Company answered all my questions and was easy to deal with. Will post update once installed.
Ellisrun - did you install the grid product?
[QUOTE=Serigraph;9011185]
Ellisrun - did you install the grid product?[/QUOTE]
Yes I did! I will try and take pictures but here is what I learned:
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We had the best success when we dug a bit into the ground (like 1 inch) to give the grid a place to sit. When it sat on top of the land, it was more prone to movement as the horses walked (or galloped!) on it.
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I did not use a geo textile and it has been fine.
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I do recommended tamping the product after installation. There were some instances where the horses seemed to catch or pick up a corner of the grid and it’s a real PITA to fix.
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I covered the grid with screenings, easy to clean, packs nicely.
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There is a clear delineation of where the grid stops and the mud begins - wish I had carried it out over more area.
Thanks for the update. Did you put it over existing mud in areas you did not dig out?
