sacrifice areas, footing

[ayrabz]

Well, one thing this winter has taught me: My ‘one’ sacrifice area for 2 (and hopefully, soon 3!) is not going to work. I cannot hay individually which I will have to do because the mini will continue to eat and chase off the larger horse.
Also, it is so limited, and I’m going to have to decide ‘what’ grass area to totally lose and that’s hard! I have SO little.
attached to barn is the 12x24 run in that opens to the 50ft x 70ft. sacrifice lot. Attached to that is a small grass paddock, about 50 ft x 120 ft. running long side of those two areas,
I have one turnout that is an actual dressage arena ‘size’(about 70 ftx200ft) ( fenced it that way, but its not level or footed, because I knew we’d need the grass) Then across the driveway is another ‘larger’ turnout/grass area, 140 ft. x 175 ft. .

The 'sacrifice’area was to also double as my ‘round pen area’ when not used for turnouts. (it won’t be round of course, but for schooling in hand, and longeing) Now, I’m looking at splitting it and making two side by side pens? possibly. I hate to divide it, but that way two horses could access the run in/heated muck tub from two separate sides, at least.

Or, I’m considering footing another area as mentioned, but just don’t know how to keep any grass if I do. I need ‘somewhere’ to turn out that they do NOT have grass…because they will eat the grass to total dirt before touching hay, so I’ll lose the grass very quickly if I don’t maintain some footed sacrifice areas.

One other? thought was: Maybe I could/should? do a 12 ft. ‘pasture paradise’ interior track? of bluestone and fencing on the larger turnout side, leaving the ‘interior’ in grass? But (!)…that would take my 140 ft. x 175 ft. grass turnout down to 114ft. x 151 ft. is that ridiculous to do to the grass area I ‘DO’ have?

And, I could always just ‘foot’ the dressage arena area…(IF I could afford it) but that also loses entirely one out of the two the large grass turnouts I have.

feeling frustrated!

[mountainhorse]

I would split the current smaller sacrifice instead of sacrificing either of your larger grass paddocks.
Or, try to get creative about feeding in such a way with them together that the mini cannot access the larger horse’s hay. ?

[ayrabz]

Thanks for weighing in, Mh. yes, I suppose its inevitable that I do that, at least. However, in re: putting hay where gelding could get it, but not mini…that has been hideously comical. Seriously! HE is the problem, really. He’s so NEEDY that he will literally ‘feed her’ (I’m not kidding)…even if I put hay out of her reach. She is lovin running the show. That’s ok…that’s an alpha mare, no matter how small. but no, I can ‘put his hay’ out of her reach, but he’ll only eat it? if he can drop as much or more of what he eats for ‘her’ (as in she allows ‘that’) otherwise? he’ll go without. I’m dead serious. Hence the need and the issue for more than one ‘footed’ or ‘bald’ area…BOTH of them will ONLY eat hay and not the dormant grass if they’re in the sacrifice area (already eaten down) OR their stalls. S I G H. problem ponies. I seem to attract em.

[Calvincrowe]

Divide the 50x70 and foot it in gravel over geotextile cloth. Do it right the first time and be diligent about cleaning up hay and manure. Long and narrow is better than narrow and short. If you can create three separate paddocks to keep everyone apart while feeding, that would be perfect, then have the ability to open them up together. My two monsters have 60 x something fine gravel over geocloth paddock that opens onto a bigger pasture (maybe 3/4 of an acre). I feed them under the barn overhang (Dutch doors from stalls to 12x48 overhang, matted). I can divide the paddock in two with corral panels in about 10 minutes, if needed.

[keepersmom]

I just had a small sacrifice area done with gravel and geotextile. While it is holding up well to the four horses, I HATE the gravel contractor used. I was expecting it to be small #10 limestone so I could pick it easily each day (that is what was there before minus the geotextile) He used crusher run which is really loose and has bigger gravels in it that I can’t keep picked because all the gravel sticks to the poop when I pick it up. I spent almost $4000 on it and it makes me sick to my stomach every time I go out there. He is supposed to come back and see if we can do #10 on top of this. Sorry - the upshot of this story is be sure to specify what size gravel you want if you go with the gravel and geotextile solution.

[bathsheba8542]

Definitely put down geotex…it is amazing. I used screened millings and the footing is amazing … very much like pea gravel. Cost $250 per dump truck load, in contrast to $650 for stone dust. It drains beautifully, heavy enough to not stick on manure, and feels really good to walk on - sort of cushiony. Any value in dividing it into just 2 sections, with one equal to 1/3 and the other equal to 2/3?