Alternative turnout?

[skye]

Hi guys,
can anyone give me any advice on alternative turnout for horses?
Punch was diagnosed with founder a week ago with a 1 in 4 chance of recovering as he is 30yrs old.The problem is standing in the stable all day is really not helping his arthritis or COPD.The vet suggested i used a bucket muzzle and let him plod around the field,but punch soon became stressed being in a field and not able to graze.I have been thinking about building a sand turnout area ,but i'm not sure where to start!Do i need planning permission ? and what kind of preperation does the ground need ?
please help!

[cvb]

you almost certainly need permission. As mentioned by someone else in another thread, being told you have to plough up your school after a lot of expense might not make you too happy !

Preparation - you need the ground to be level and have good drainage.

Use for laminitic pony/horse. My mother uses her sand school to turn out her pony when he gets a bit too close to laminitis for comfort. He gets oat straw if he is in there for any length of time. But him and his pal seem to think its ok. Enough room to move, roll, not too hard etc.

[skye]

I've checked about plannning permission and apparently i don't need any as its only a turnout pen not an arena.20ft sq tops.I'm also considering using rubber crumb instead of sand ,as sand can become frozen in the winter and dusty in the summer.Has anyone else used rubber crumb?

[cvb]

we have a mix of sand and rubber. When it rains the top part can separate a bit, so it needs to be graded every so often. But it seems to be quite good. Its in SCotland, so when it really does get cold there, it does freeze a bit and get too hard/slippy. But its not too deep in the summer.

[skye]

thanks. been given a quote for rubber crumb and for a 20ft sq pen its ultra expensive! I looked at sand which seems quite a good idea,but i know it can freze and get dusty etc.Someone mentioned to me a bout wood chippings and wondered what your opinion is on this?
Thanks for all your help!

[Wally]

Just plough it up and spray it with Roundup, nothing will grow, it is not a change of use as you are still using it to "run" your horses on. Put some chippings down. There was a legal battle, test case, as to whether land was being used to "graze" or "exercise" horses on! Turns out the two are too closely linked to discriminate against as most folk use turnout to both exercise and feed their horses. If you are using a bit of land to turn your hourse out on, it is surely up to you as to whether it is primarily for exercise or grazing.