Raised Dutch Doors that Step Over the Foundation

[EquineJunky]

We had to raise the threshold and floor of one of our stalls to eliminate flooding in heavy rains.

On the outside, I put down rock base and screenings on top making a ‘ramp’. Tamped it all down. Then put a stall mat on top to keep hooves and overflow from gutter from wearing it away. Mat extends about 6" further out from the barn than the ‘ramp’. Hubs did pound in a small rod at the top of each side of the mat to help keep it from sliding down the ramp (rod was pounded down until it was flush with the mat so horse won’t step on/trip over it).

This is our end stall so I keep a small trench open to keep water moving around to the side of the barn and away. Has been this way for about 6 years now with no issue.

[bdj]

Maybe (and I’m completely spitballing here) use geotextile cloth on the bottom, to keep your fill material from disappearing, then your “primary” layer of fill material, and then a ring mat or grid (which you’d then backfill) to help hold the top level of footing in place?

[Simkie]

If you don’t want to build up that whole side of the barn and are just looking for ramps at the doors, I’d just put down stall mats to cover the ramps. That should protect your screenings enough. You may have to yank the mats back up the “hill” every so often. Or secure then with stall mat clips.

I have one stall with a drop off and manage it like that. I don’t have the big step out, but the ground was quite a bit lower than the stall. Piled screenings, covered with a mat. Works great other than the periodic need to fix the mat. Keep meaning to order the clips.

[Libby2563]

Stonedust will pack down quite hard with some effort (water and pressure) but if I were you I might consider grids to help contain it and keep it from getting mixed into the dirt.

Suggestion since your location says Maryland–I bought grids from Emge Equine Services in Westminster to stabilize a few areas where my stonedust was being stomped away to nothing or washing out (mostly around waterers). They are priced comparably to other similar grids I found online but if you can pick them up locally you’ll save on shipping even if you don’t need a huge quantity. They are easy to work with and can be trimmed with a jigsaw or even a sharp pair of scissors (I used my trauma shears after realizing the jigsaw was overkill). Also, since it sounds like you’re renting this place, these grids are only 2’x2’ and very lightweight so if you wanted to dig them up and take them with you when you go, it would be possible. They’re on this page, scroll down: http://www.earthhorse.com/stable-flooring.html

[Texarkana]

@EquineJunky and @Simkie good idea with the mats. Do they get slippery in the rain/mud/weather?

@bdj Now that’s getting into quite the project! I’ll have to look into pricing on the geotextile layer… do you know off hand?

@Libby2563 Thanks for the recommendation and the link! I’m quite a ways from Westminster (eastern shore), so I might see if what they have locally… if nothing, than it may be an option…

[EquineJunky]

@Texarkana

good idea with the mats. Do they get slippery in the rain/mud/weather?

My horse that uses that stall is barefoot and has not had any issues. Stall is really only used in the winter when it is muddy/mucky and they need to come in to save the pastures. She is free to come/go from the stall into the small lot behind it.

[Simkie]

@Texarkana

@EquineJunky and @Simkie good idea with the mats. Do they get slippery in the rain/mud/weather?

Nope? I have mats off all my stalls and they accumulate enough stone dust tracked in and bedding tracked out to have plenty of grip should a horse get a little eager.

[bdj]

Hey Tex - I don’t think geotextile is all that expensive - haven’t some folks said that they’ve used old carpet pieces? This place is a rental, right? Maybe just get a couple of rolls of landscape fabric at the local big box, rather than investing a ton.

Also, depending on where you are, Westminster probably isn’t that far - maybe 2 hours or so (it’s 2 hours for me, and I’m south of you in Caroline Cty) - it was well worth the trip for me to head over to Emge for my grids. Jeanne is great, but make sure you talk to her ahead of time, as they tend to more of a “by appointment” place than regular hours.