Outdoor washbay/yard footing ideas

[sweetsalute]

I have a roughly 15 x 15 outdoor wash bay/tie up yard we built in 2014. Currently the footing is just grass, but I’m somewhat keen to change that into something a bit firmer and less likely to get muddy (or knee high overnight after some rain in summer). It drains pretty well, never turns into slop but of course when bathing or in wetter weather it will get muddy. It’s also a nuisance when it gets a bit overgrown.

So far I’m thinking my options are either concrete (maybe with mats on top) or some sort of grid system filled with gravel. From my research so far the second seems like more work, and potentially more $$ to implement, and won’t necessarily stop the grass eventually coming back through.

It’s highly unlikely the yard will ever be used for long term confinement due to it’s location. It’s uncovered, although I wouldn’t mind getting a roof over it at some point so I don’t have to tie up in the carport when its raining!

Thoughts?

[ayrabz]

I’ll look for my photo, but I have my washrack outside and I had bluestone packed and installed interlocking mats edge to edge of the space. I LOVE IT. Mine is on a gradual slope too, and drains nicely from that. its a space I use a lot.

ok! editing to add pix. I LOVE the full corian counter ‘V’ with sink, and my crosstie posts with the solar carriage lantern tops, and the propane water heater.

[NaturallyHappy]

Very nice!

[ayrabz]

thanks… I had so much fun planning it all out. My little barn was once my father’s boatshed. the black and white on the left hand side of this pix are my barn doors…(sliders) and its one step inside to fully locking mat aisleway and 2 stalls. there is a dutch door into the run in 12x24 and again interlocking mats just to the right as you step in.

[sweetsalute]

Mine is…nowhere near that fancy It’s just post and rail (only 2 rails) with a gate and a single tie ring (no cross ties). Oh and a hose, which at this time of year the holder has to be carefully checked for wasp nests before sticking your hand in to turn on the tap (ask me how I found that one out… ). Luckily I live in a part of the world where water heaters aren’t necessary…if our pipes froze there would be much bigger concerns than an inability to use the wash rack!

Packed base and mats is definitely a possibility, thanks!

[ayrabz]

‘fancy’ is kinda funny…I got that corian counter and sink off of craigslist from a tear out. I HATE washracks where you set all your shampoos/conditioners/brushes, etc on the ground. If you find a used one they weather beautifully ‘outside’… Highly recommend!

[sweetsalute]

I hate that too! I’ve got one bridle hook on the outside, and need to get some more hooks and maybe a basket I can attach for placing such things…currently I precariously balance bottles on the rails until the horse inevitably knocks them off. I don’t think I’ve got the space/layout for a counter sadly.

[ayrabz]

gotcha. its all in how you can think it out. when you said 15 x15…I thought maybe a u shaped narrow ledge all around the inside? we cut the corian we got to make the full V shape because that’s how I wanted my Cross tie posts. but I’ll bet you can cut one horizontally and make a more narrow one, OR maybe? some Trex decking boards that wont rot? for a narrow 'counter. anyway. HAVE FUN!

[sweetsalute]

Here’s a pic of the yard in question. Can’t really see in the photo but there is a ditch/drain inbetween it and the water tank. I also really need to trim the tree back…tie up point is on the inside of the middle post with the hose holder.

[Arlomine]

It’s pretty simple to make a raised pad with pegged-down railroad ties, filled with gravel…put a bit of road fabric between ground and gravel.

You could even decide at a later date to put a layer of compacted DG over the gravel and place mats on top of that.

Bathroom or kitchen wire baskets on the rails to keep things organized.

[baybrio]

ayrabz, Lovely well thought out wash stall. If it’s ok I’m going to copy your pic and put in in my great big file of things I want in my barn.

sweetsalute, I really like your wash stall. It’s big and enclosed. But I know what you mean about mud and overgrowth. I’m a keep it simple and as economical as possible girl. That way I can spend time and money on something I really WANT (not need), like new tack.

I would start with mats on the surface you have. See if mats alone will work. I think it would be enough if you don’t have a boarding situation with many horses moving around, pawing and being left by their owners to fret.

If that didn’t work I’d move straight to geo-textile with ground stone of whatever type is in your area (in my area we call it ag-lime) Then cover with the mats you already have. The ag-lime in this area grain size is small like sand but it packs HARD. Then put your mats back down on that. In my dry lot I used geo-textile and ag-lime. It works great except just in front of a 5’ wide entrance. In that entrance I put a 4’x6’ rubber mat. It’s been there six months and hasn’t moved so finger crossed.

I’ve never used the grids. I think you let the grass grown over the grids, so you’d still have to mow.

Concrete is also great, I think you need to do a lot of ground prep ($$$) to get it installed correctly. You might still want rubber mats.

[ayrabz]

baybrio, that’s the sweetest compliment! I used to copy/file many things so I totally understand! (and am honored. ) Mine, as lots ‘do’ came from the fall I had in ground anyway, and the space that came about due to gates and how/where they would work. what ‘isn’t’ shown is the back side of this, where, the water did run to…I had contractor dig a 12 inch pit, and had larger gravel dumped and leveled… and I decked over it for the ‘drain’ area. again, all comes to using what works for your area, and I love your input for the OP. Oh, I have one mini. if you notice where counter ‘stops’ at the right hand cross tie post, I actually ended up with the perfect ‘width’ to put in two ‘trailer ties’ at mini level for my mini cross ties too! I crack my farrier up.

[baybrio]

I do see the mini cross tie. My farrier would love this. She used to take her mini to nursing homes for meet and greet. She was floored by how interested the folks were to learn about horses hooves and their care. Oh, and she transported the mini in the back of her SUV.

[spacehorse]

I made mine last year. I have packed stone dust with mats on top. I needed to be able to completely remove everything from the space due to its location. So my crossties are mounted on 4x4’s cemented into a tire. It has worked really well, there is an unintended slight downhill unevenness which helps it drain faster. I have since put all my supplies into deck boxes. The sun is really hard on stuff and it cooked some of my tools over the summer, so I cover them up now.