Stone size for area between gate and barn

[Kmacht]

The barn just got finished the other week and we are in the process of doing all the other things needed to bring our horse home. One of those chores is to put some stone around the perimeter of the barn. The barn roof is too steep for gutters with the winter snow so we need to put stone about 3’ out all around to keep the water from the roof from splashing up on the siding. There is also an area about 10’ long and 10’ wide between the barn entrance and the gate to the sacrifice paddock that I would like to make stone. The question is what type and what size. For looks I would like to go with 1-1/4 crushed stone. The concern is if this would be too rough for the horse to occasionally walk on. The local quarry is limited in what they have available. It is 3/8, 3/4, and 1-1/4 in crushed stone in addition to the regular sand and gravel mixes. They do sell stone dust but not pea stone. My plan in the sacrifice paddock area is a mix of 3/8 and stone dust but would prefer something thicker and quicker draining for the walk way. Is 1-1/4 going to be too rough for the horse to occasionally walk across?

Keith

[Frog_Pond]

I have 3/4 outside of my barn door on the human-side, and the horses walk over it occasionally. It’s as big as I would go – they can feel it, clearly, and step carefully until they’re off it.

On the stall-side of the barn I have stone dust and that’s been very durable. Hay and debris is easier to rake off of the stone dust than the chunky stone, so my paddock is actually neater looking than the barn entrance – hard to rake that 3/4 stuff. I’m thinking of dumping stone dust over it some day, just to make it easier to keep clean.

[mmeqcenter]

I would do paver or concrete walkways to avoid walking on the gravel, whichever size you choose if you choose gravel (instead of stone dust or screenings).

[mmeqcenter]

@Frog Pond

I have 3/4 outside of my barn door on the human-side, and the horses walk over it occasionally. It’s as big as I would go – they can feel it, clearly, and step carefully until they’re off it.

On the stall-side of the barn I have stone dust and that’s been very durable. Hay and debris is easier to rake off of the stone dust than the chunky stone, so my paddock is actually neater looking than the barn entrance – hard to rake that 3/4 stuff. I’m thinking of dumping stone dust over it some day, just to make it easier to keep clean.

Leaf blower?

[danacat]

My horse path from paddock to barn is stone dust. Used to be ‘Item 4’ (to better accomodate driving my tractor back an forth) but horses would often take that ouchy bad step on the inevitable errant piece of gravel – so I switched the Item 4 to stone dust.

[horsepoor]

We do our barn driveway and parking in 3/4" minus and that is the largest I would want for walking horses on. They walk from the barn over this to the arena and it is fine for that. I’ve even lunged in it for vet exams (not something I would do regularly but it is a good “hard surface”).