Putting in Sand! Need Advice.

[Trevelyan96]

I have a dump truck load of mason's sand coming on Monday in an attempt to create some friendlier footing conditions in the small paddock on the south side of my barn. The base is pretty solid... a mixure of clay and gravel. The area is small, about 55' x 130', but at least it's lighted!

The area has a sligh slope, and I was wondering if I should install some railroad ties along the bottom edge of the sanded area to keep it all from washing away. Mr. T doesn't seem too keen on the idea, he says it will create a 'step' in the middle of the paddock. If I don't go that route, I guess it will mean saving up to have the sand replenished every year.

Any advice?

[Calvincrowe]

Will you ride in this area or is it just turnout? Do you get heavy rain? How many horses use it? I have to say that one dump load of sand isn't going to give you much coverage in terms of depth. And...mason's sand...is that the kind that sets up when wet? Is it angular or smooth? Sorry for the questions--my hubby is behind me doing the math to figure your square footage--he's a math teacher. You have 7000 sq. feet of paddock, and have a 1000 sq ft of sand, 6" deep in that load. I'd contain what you are able to lay in.

I have them between my overhang and my paddock, which is "footed" in screenings (very fine gravel), and the horses have no issues stepping up and down. I wish I had them on the downhill edge of my paddock where it shifts from gravel to dirt on the way out to the pasture. My screenings do wash away in heavy rain showers, but not badly, as it is heavier than sand.

[secretariat]

1. Sand on slope will wash away. If you put in railroad ties, it will fill in and wash over until it's level.

2. Be sure to NOT use river sand. It's round and slick.