Monday, March 8, 2010

Paddock footing ??

We have been trying to decide what to use inside the paddocks where the horses will be kept during "monsoon season" here in Louisiana so that they don't destroy the grass in the pastures.  Look at this mess in the pasture where they're boarded now.

Here's that same space today after it hasn't rained in a week.  The ground is drier, but the pasture is still toast!
Granted, these pictures were taken near the fence, but there is VERY little grass anywhere in the pasture.  That's why we want to build "sacrifice" paddocks here at home and keep the horses off the main pastures when it gets so soggy.  But the question then is, what to use as footing in the small paddocks.

If we win the lottery, I'd love to use these grass grid things.
BUT . . . at a minimum price of $2.50 a square foot and UP - mostly WAY up -- we're looking at a minimum of $20,000.  Let's see . . . tidy paddocks and work 'til we're 80 -- muddy paddocks and retire at 70.  Okay.  There has to be another way.  But WHAT ???   Anyone have any suggestions that won't break us?

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