Granite Crusher Fines or Pea Gravel for Turnout Pen?
January 6, 2012 by cherryhillhorsekeeping
Hello Cherry,
I recently put up a 36 x36 pen and shelter for my horse. I live here in Golden Colorado where the soil is VERY much Clay. We had a several inches of rain this past week, which is a considerable amount for our parts. The pen got very muddy. I spent several hours today mucking it and now doing research on what I should do for a better fix. I saw your article on 3/8 minus pea gravel. A couple of questions:
1. Some horse friends of mine suggest I use Granite Crusher Fines to aide in the drainage. Is this suitable?
2. Whether I use Pea Gravel or Granite Crusher Fines, what is the recommended depth of the material I should go with? 2, 3 or 4 inches?
BTW: I’m also going to install a french drainage system as well.
Many Thanks!
Shawn
Hi Shawn,
The French Drain is a good idea. Sloping the pens slightly away from the barn is helpful to manage drainage too.
I’m not personally familiar with Granite Crusher Fines but think they might be something like decomposed granite which we use here in northern Colorado.
We use decomposed granite under our stall mats and also under the 3/8- pea gravel in turnout pens.
So my answer would be yes and yes ! A tamped crushed granite base with 2-3 inches of 3/8- pea gravel on top.
Please feel free to post your results here. Thanks ! Cherry Hill
To read more about French Drains, pen footing and much more, refer to these books and DVD.
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Posted in Books, DVDs, Facilities, Horse Housing, Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage, Moisture Control, Pen or Run, Your Horse Barn, Your Horse Barn DVD | Tagged cherry hill, decomposed granite, equine, granite crusher fines, horse care, horse pen, horse pen footing, horsekeeping, management, pea gravel, sanitation | 2 Comments
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We use crushed limestone fines in Texas on clay soil and its the only thing that allows us to get from gate to barn during the flash flood rains. You know, we’re either in a 7 year drought or hip deep in water, nothing inbetween…pea gravel or crushed granite are too expensive here for the backyard horse person.
I know what you mean. I have two sisters in Texas so know what you are going through.
Thanks for the comment.
Here in semi-arid Colorado which is where the person asking the question is from also, we’ve found that crushed limestone fines are just too dusty. Decomposed granite is less so and pea gravel even better, but as you say, much pricier.