Any recommendations for a super durable stain for the lighter colored posts?
I’d like to get something on them before the wire/tape goes up. They’ve been sitting since fall of last year before being pounded, so I think they’re dry enough (but will do a water check just in case).
Are you just looking to match the others?
I used fence coat (the regular stuff, not the pro)
Which has done a very good job and does come in brown. It acts like a stain in that it soaks in rather than sits on top of the wood. It’s quite inexpensive. You need to call them to order.
Yeah, there’s no way I could get the dark posts to take anything in, they’re wetter than all get out (despite being in the sun for 3-4 months). I want the lighter posts to look like the darker ones.
I haven’t been super impressed with other stain products I’ve used, but the fence coat is really durable. It’s kind of vile to apply, but maybe less so if you’re brushing? If you’re spraying, expect that the clothes are trash, cover as much skin as you can, and a coat of heavy lotion on any exposed skin beforehand helps with removing anything.
A high quality deck stain like Arbor Coat might be an okay compromise if you just really want to pick something up locally. It’s about as good as it gets otherwise. But I’d expect it’ll fade and wear and show that pretty heavily in a couple few years. Which is maybe okay, if the other posts do that too?
Just got the quote for the barn addition - too much to stomach. I’m going to have to dig deep and find the strength to get it in myself.
What’s that saying? Shut up and grind.
A moisture meter for wood can be bought for under $20. Stick the needle prongs into the wood and the percentage displays. My fence painter looks for 11 percent or less before he paints bare pressure treated posts. I do a bunch of jump building using pressure treated wood, and the little meter is invaluable for knowing when the wood has dried enough for painting.
I have one of these for my firewood, but it didn’t dawn on me to use it for this purpose. Thank you!
And now I’ve got two quotes for my dry lot that make me want to puke.
What a discouraging day.
It’s so discouraging when you’re trying to do so much but the bottom line gets in the way. What was so pricey about the dry lot?
It’s about a quarter acre. I’d like it to be 8" of limestone so no mud (the old man really can’t be pulling his arthritic legs out of mud).
One quote with a base of fabric - 17k.
The other with a base of bigger rock - 14k.
It’s just sobering. I’ll never get my arena, which I’m mentally going to have to come to terms with.
Ouch! I had to give up on some plans when we got here and it’s frustrating. 
It might come around in time somehow but I remember how disappointed I was every time something got knocked off the to-do list. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with it.
Wow, eight inches is a lot. I realize you have entirely different weather than I do (no snow or mud seasons here, the ground doesn’t freeze, etc.), and probably entirely different soil, but that’s deep, at least to me. We have pea gravel for our paddock, and eight inches of that would be difficult to walk on/in.
If the surface is scraped, what can you get down to? Anything more suitable for a base?
You’ll only have two horses, correct? Do you really need the quarter acre, assuming that they’ll have additional pasture time? Our turnout was originally made to be about 70% of your planned size. When we got down to two horses, we eventually subdivided it 45/55, which has been perfect. Still plenty of room to walk, trot, and even canter if the mood strikes in the 55% section, but less upkeep. We did not have to add a base or fabric, due to our natural soil, and have simply topped off with a load of gravel every several years (don’t you plan to sell in five?). We turned the smaller section into an irrigated area of grass, which has been a boon in times of drought, when the pastures can’t take any grazing whatsoever. Of course, I’ve always had smaller horses.
Best wishes with whatever you decide.
Eh, it’s reality. Maybe I’ll be able to cobble something together myself at some point. For the foreseeable future, I’m riding on dirt. 
I could make it smaller, I suppose - at least the “mud free” portion. Having them on dry ground certainly takes priority over an arena.
8" was recommended by both contractors, so I’m sure there’s a reason.
Rock is expensive. It sucks but it is what it is.
Dry ground certainly is a priority! Just trying to think of possible ways it might be possible to accomplish the goal, off the top of my head. No offense meant (I’ve got an old saint myself, and nothing’s too good for him).
We put more rock, and a French drain, in the corral that opens off the barn (and leads into the sacrifice paddock), for the worst weather, when we would rather not have them out in the paddock (say, immediately after torrential rain). Enabled us not to have the sacrifice paddock built to the standard of 24/7/365 turnout-ability (it’s usable the vast majority of the time, just not 100% of the time), which saved us $.
Is your sacrifice area something you’d consider doing yourself? It’s a lot easier than building out an extension from the barn. You sound very comfortable with a skid steer, and more than capable. Rock is still $$$ but this sort of work is often a lot more reasonable if you’re not paying someone else for the work.
My sacrifice areas at both of our barns have been about 1/4 acre (about 100’x100’) and it’s a nice size, especially if you’re expecting extended time off the field. (Like this winter–it’s been so damned wet here, I haven’t been able to get them on the fields since last FALL, ugh.)
It’s not at all unreasonable, though, to only mud proof part of it, or go for a season and see what you get, and then decide what you want for the surface. Horses are generally pretty good about staying where it’s dry ish.
Those are both options. I will look into it! I’m not super familiar with big overhaul ground work, but I’m learning lots of new things lately, so why not this?
I think you’re well capable of figuring it out!
I can guarantee that this stuff you’ve been doing is a lot harder than dirt work.
But truly, going a year with what you have to really find out what you need is a great idea.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
