Building a Galloping lane?

[slc2]

How do you all build a galloping lane? We hope to build a lane right around the whole property next year.

[goeslikestink]

same way you build an areana only its not square its an all weather track

[Hear_my_echo]

I've never built one, but I've ridden out on them a few times. The best ones have really good footing (that depends on what you like and can afford), no sharp corners and are wide enough so two horses can go side by side. (You may not want to gallop two together, but it gives you the option of varying where on the track you ride.

The last one I rode on was around 12 feet wide. It had graded sand over gravel as a footing, and that's something I'd steer clear of- the sand held water, froze in the winter, and the stones worked to the surface. I think you need some sort of graded base with a liner to stop that happening, and to keep the footing where you want it. They used half logs along the sides to contain the sand.

Any of the areana/indoor school companies should be able to help you.

[NMK]

I have a mile galloping trail that once was a tree clearing road. It has textile fabric with driveway gravel that has since pulverized. I add river rock topped with washed concrete sand to any uneven spots.

Starting from scratch, I would clear, add the textile fabric, a layer of driveway gravel, and a small amount of limestone/bluestone. Let sit for a few months (all winter?) and finish with washed concrete. IMHO doing a galloping track should be done as well or even more extensively than a ring, because you will be riding at speed. One good stone bruise or hole and you're out for a while. It's better to have a shorter, safe track than an uneven or ungiving mess.

Also, sweep the turns and make it two horses wide, in case you pony on it.

I use mine all year round and would not know what to do without it...it even has MPM markers.

[lstevenson]

Some places keep the natural turf footing, and then use an aerater to punch little holes in the ground (which keeps the ground from getting too hard), and add some shaved rubber (on top and down into the holes). This creates lovely turf footing, and is much cheaper than trying to put artificial footing down on something as big as a galloping track.

[Wigwag]

The barn I'm out now has a galloping track. It does have a bit of an incline on one side, and decline on the other, but fairly minor. I think it's good for conditioning, but maybe not great to have on a galloping track. It is multiple horses wide, and regular grass footing.

I'm not sure how well it would hold up to many horses using it. As it is, 99% of the boarders - if they even go out there - walk or trot a little. Only a couple of us ever galloped it. But gosh was it fun. :D

If LAZ doesn't chime in, you might talk to her and see if she has any tips. She has a galloping track at her farm and she ran the barn I'm at for awhile back before I was there.

[Thomas_1]

It depends: Mine is turf and an 8 furlong circuit which basically just borders a load of fields. Alternatively I just go out on the moor and goooooooo

What's your acreage?

What are you wanting to use it for?

What sort of land is it on?

What's your climate?

[Flipper]

[QUOTE=Thomas_1;3668027] Alternatively I just go out on the moor and goooooooo

Wow, I wish I had a moor I could get out & gooooooo on!:)

[goeslikestink]

i am lucky enough to have 600 acres of woodland to ride in and go plus another2/3000 acres of farm land plus additional country park all in about 5mins off road work
i also have localy an 1 and 1/2 mile long gallop track so i often gooooooooo every time i ride out

[RunForIt]

I've got a similar need - just need general directions. Have neighbors with every possible tractor and implements, bulldozers, discs, etc. I just need to be able to tell them what I want and need. Front paddock is 3 acres, shaped like a rectangle, long sides about 500ft. Suggestions and directions would be greatly appreciated.

There was a thread on this some months back but I can't find it.

[slc2]

One company has a geo product they recommend for trails, anyway, it is like a series of honeycombs that hold the surface material and lock together. The bottom of it separates it from any base material. I think it's called eco grid. it's meant to keep material from mixing and migrating, but i'm not sure about how the horse would manage if he caught an edge on this honeycomb or slipped on it. THe honeycomb is about 2" deep and the cells are about 13 inches wide.

[LAZ]

If you want it to be all weather and done right first decide how wide you want it to be. My current galloping track is about 16' wide and 1/3 mile. It is too narrow in the corners for real speed work. It's nice for trots and slow gallops but gets pretty hairy for anything over 520 MPM. You can work two horses next to each other comfortably, but not at speed.

Excavate down to subsoil and put a crown or slope on it for drainage, and bank your turns (degree depends on width and diameter). Put down geotextile fabric--this will save your investment in stone.

Put down large stone, compact.

Put down fines (3/8's and down) compact and ride on this until it gets really hard.

Put on your cushion layer.

My current track is turf. If I ever get the money I'll put it in sand, but for now it works as it is. I just found a place to rent an aerovater (sp?) so I'll be doing that sometime in the spring, as well as my pastures.