Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 12/15/99 7:34:19 PM Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: But it is like being married to a man who beats you, and then occasionally you get a kiss! Same thing here when the sun comes out, it is like heaven!! Jean This is not my idea of heaven!!
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] I don't know Jean where is best. I am so tired of this continual dark sunless spot. But it is like being married to a man who beats you, and then occasionally you get a kiss! Same thing here when the sun comes out, it is like heaven!! Jean Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes Noble Book Stores
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well, Jean I guess we don't have it so bad here in Fairbanks. -12 presently, but no rain or wind. I would like it to get above zero for a while so I can work with the horses, cut manes at least. Still I think the cold is much easier on the horses than that wet stuff! Jean In Fairbanks, Alaska At 01:52 PM 12/15/1999 -0800, you wrote: This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hey Denise, you are right about Aberdeen and experts on rain. Its been raining for six straight days and a 45 to 55 mph wind today. Tree went down someplace a few minutes ago. Poor Gunnar from Calif. He is a sodden mess. Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes Noble Book Stores Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hey Denise, you are right about Aberdeen and experts on rain. Its been raining for six straight days and a 45 to 55 mph wind today. Tree went down someplace a few minutes ago. Poor Gunnar from Calif. He is a sodden mess. Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes Noble Book Stores
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gail, be sure you know what wood is in that stuff. Yew bushes etc can cause bad problems. Jean Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes Noble Book Stores
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] karen,we use chopped up greenstone from amador county for paths and walks. it's similar to dg, in that it binds and hardens. dg is not around here. easy to get in southern calif, though. as for the redwood chips in the stalls i know what you mean as to people and slivers; they fester. but the boys have had no problems and it has been in there since april. denise
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Karen McCarthy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Denise, When I lived in Calaveras County, I used to get rock from a quarry on Hwy 49 in Moke Hill, and it was Rhyolite. It was fractured, and had a tendency to be sharp.The 1/4 minus, unscreened wasnot sharp, and we used in runs and as a stall base. The bigger stuff we used for paths and driveway. The other type of rock-stuff we got was from the old cement quarry in San Andreas, and it was limestone. As good as cement, fantastic for filling in potholes,and great for the barn aisle, but too hard for the horses stalls. Never found a reliable source for good, clean DG up there. Perhaps you have? Take care, and sorry to bore ya'all with gravel drivel... __ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Karen McCarthy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wow Gail, you are a good librarian...keeping all that info! Had a couple of thoughts re. recycled fir and pine, and also anything with redwood in it; don't want to sound like a worry wart, but when I did landscaping out in the field,(8 years),I became very wary of working around redwood and pressure treated woods,(fir/pine),as the splinters, now matter how small, would hurt like hell and abcess unless I was able to dig them out. Don't know if I would bed horses on this stuff, OK for riding surface I suppose, or for pathways, etc. The stuff of dreams as far as I am concerned,(and it is in VERY good supply here in Nevada), is Decomposed Granite, or DG. Its in my arena and in my stall runs. Great stuff, stays clean, looks clean and a big + here, it doesn't blow or float away! Nice toothy surface, breaks up easily w/ the harrow, gives but is not too deep. In Sonoma County this may be a little dear, as they have to truck it in fom the foothills somewhere. Perhaps there are local screenings that don't have too many fines in them, and are not too sharp.( Limestone?) I wonder what this mud cloth looks like. I have access to a nice vendor library, with samples, of every kind of LC fabric and drain liner available. I wonder what the composition is: felted, woven or bonded? What is the weight? And the $ per sq ft? Send me info Gail and I'll see what else is out there. Who knows, perhaps there is the same stuff, named and marketed differently somewhere, and they have jacked up the $ for the horsey set? Take care, Karen __ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: GAIL RUSSELL [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well - I think I'm getting a better picture of how all this stuff works from Teressa, Jean's and Denise's experience. Thanks so much for taking the time to think about hog fuel. :) Just in case you haven't heard enough about it, I just discovered (gasp!) the King County Wood Recycle web site, and am excitedly reading about the size chips for arenas and animal paddocks. There are even lists of specifications. Thus far, they say you want smaller stuff for the arenas - less than 3.5 inches. The paddock stuff can be 5 inches (seems huge to me). Here is the URL - in case you need evening entertainment. http://www.metrokc.gov/procure/green/hogfuel.htm Spent today working all horseys - Made Gunthar pony Odin (formerly Baby Jaws). Gunthar wasn't thrilled, and he thought about trying to kick as Odin just let his head hang from the rope - was a major pain as far as Gunthar was concerned - but Gunthar is a trooper and just let it all happen. Thanks again - if I have any more revelations about hog fuel- I'll let you guys know. It sounds like screenings would be better - but this is going to have to do - so I can sell out and buy a real ranch some day. :) Gail Russell Forestville CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] Clicker List Web Site : http://clickryder.cjb.net
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Teressa Kandianis [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ode to hog fuel: Frankly, I love the stuff. The whole neighborhood smells like cedar when any of us on our street have a load delivered. The chips are white and I haven't found any caught in the hooves yet. As wet as it is here, even though I don't have a barrier between my clay soil and the hog fuel, the horses have yet to grind it in together except where the gutters drain ( I've devised a system that routes the gutter water well away from the barn, but because I put it together with duct tape, my husband keeps removing it EVEN THOUGH IT IS QUITE EFFECTIVE). My kids like rolling in it as well and it is quite easy to pick up droppings from the surface. So far this winter, the drainage has been excellent and the area around the barn has secure footing for both me and the creatures. The stuff doesn't seem to settle and get packed in very firmly as the chips are fairly large. I just wish my dear husband had realized that the second 90 yards I had coming and he cancelled would have made both our footing and the weegies footing drier and more secure in the paddock beyond the barn. I believe he may have seen the error of his ways but he only says that he wanted to have a load of sand put down first and that's why he nixed load #2. Not. There wasn't a word uttered about sand so I believe this is merely an excuse for having dissed my idea. From what I remember of Gail's message, she cannot afford to ruin the ground by bringing in rock or sand or anything in between. The hog fuel breaks down slowly, even here in the great northwet, so it provides a good surface for awhile but will eventually turn to mulch and add organic material to the soil. As with any wood mulch, while in the breaking down stage it ties up nitrogen. When it is broken down though, it will look like any other humus. As for rescue dogs, I've rescued six mini schnauzers and still have four of them (two were sent on to a better place - my sister's house). All were set adrift for different reasons - though we believe it was destiny that made them part of our family. I love them all and believe there's room in my heart for several more even though there isn't room in my car. Rescueing is addictive. Teressa from soggy Ferndale, WA.
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] jean, maybe this is different stuff. if it does'nt get really hard, i don't think it is like what you are talking about. anyway, if i were worried about moisture, you are the expert in that area, coming from aberdeen!!! happy holidays, denise
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Denise I wonder if you really are using screenings? There are other products that have a calcium like or clay like product that gets like concrete. I have had no problems like you mention and it remains soft, esp over grass. Jean Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes Noble Book Stores
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] as for jeans screenings. they work well to keep things dry, but have a tendency to hard pack in the summer. we use those for pathways and walks. they seem to weave themselves together and get like concrete, which is good for the above. in the stalls i would use something softer. they would be great for the paddock areas though denise
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] dear gail, rereading your note6 inches of chips is'nt enough. it really compacts. denise
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] dear gail, in my paddocks i have landscape-sized redwood chunks that we use to mulch around the rose garden. the chunks are about 1-2 inches, some bigger, some smaller. but it really is a three sided pipe barn and covered on top. it drains great, but has a tendency to compact. my husband just churns it up with his kubota tractor when that happens. i did'nt put any barrier fabric down first and laid a very thick layer, may 10-12. the horses like to sleep on it and also roll. and being dark colored it makes them dirty looking, but is really easy to brush off. it smells nice and is good for the soil. manure is a joy (if that is possible) to pick up off of it, even when wet. you can get FREE wood chunks and chips from asplund (sp?) tree trimming company. they usually work for pge and i've seen them all over calif. they have orange and white trucks. for my round pen i laid down the barrier fabric, but only one layer. we have huge rocks here and literally tons left over from the gold miners. they are a devil to get rid of, and the fabric at least keeps them down in the pen. on top of that we brought in three double trailer truck loads of sand. when you order the sand make sure they know it is for a round pen and horses and has no pebbles. it has a special name, i can't remember right now. just tell them what you need it for. so far is is great! i love it and there is minimal dust in the summer. i usually wet it down right before i work them in the summer. it makes the whole area cooler! i think the bark, hulls or anything else but sand, would be too slippery and dangerous. a couple of trainer friends i know have sand and that rubber tennis shoe stuff. i like the sand. well, better go. this is long enough. good luck, denise in mokelumne hill, calif.
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Again try your gravel supplier and ask for screenings which is what is left after rock chipping or crushing. It is more than a course sand, stays well on top of grass at about four inches. Horses feel quite sure footed in it. I drag mine as it is my arena footing also and I want to keep it level and loose. But where I have put it in the mud areas it still stays firm and does not pack hard.. My ferrier was here today and asked, How do you keep your stalls so dry This is rain country. I have screenings where the mud used to be. Jean Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes Noble Book Stores
Re: Hog fuel for Paddocks and arenas
This message is from: GAIL RUSSELL [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Listers, Below my message are excerpts of posts by Peg Knutsen, Karen McCarthy and Teressa Kandinassas (sp) - regarding hog fuel. My project for next weekend is to fix up some *non-muddy* stalls. Am trying to do this on my bizillion dollars per square foot wine grape land - so trying not to ruin the soil with rock/sand materials that won't decompose. Right now I'm looking for footing material for the round pen and for some 12*24 paddocks/feeding areas. Tentatively considering wood landscape chips made from redwood and fir (probably construction wood) - all supposedly with metal removed via magnet and chipped to 1.5 inches. This material is to go on top of a non-woven Geotextile poly fabric from Mirafi Industries. he geotextile fabric comes 1/4 inch thick and weighs 16 oz per square yard. I am using a double layer of 10 oz per square yard material. On top of that I have to put material to protect the fabric from the sun and from horse hooves catching in it. Thinking of about six inches of chips. However, I'm not sure what size chips to get. There shouldn't be a mud problem as the fabric will protect the chips from mixing with the mud. But I need a non-slip surface for the round pen and a surface I can pick manure off of for the paddock. (Horses are also turned out in the round pen right now - so have to be able to pick manure off of it too.) I've rejected tree company stuff due to dangers from poisionous plants, etc. So... my questions are: Do you think 1.5 inch chopped material is OK. Dangers getting stuck in hooves? Possibly slippery? Optimum size? I suppose I could also try furniture factories for smaller chips as Teresa did for hardwood chips. Another possibility is rice hulls - but I am worried they might be too slippery and also too soft (causing tendon damage). Any opinions out there? Maybe I need two different materials (for round pen and paddocks). At 12:01 PM 10/5/1999 -0700, you wrote: This message is from: Knutsen Fjord Farm [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Casey and listers - Thanks for the warning re: hog fuel. We finally decided to order a fine mix of chips, no cedar or juniper, just Doug and White Fir and Pine. Right now it's a huge mountain [which our goat is dying to climb] ready to be spread. Doug is out looking at a used tractor with a front-loader on it. We can borrow, but would like to have our own asap. Hope he likes the one today, as the wind is starting to pick up. From Karen McCarthy Some people like to add shavings, and again personal preference, but when I have ridden in outdoor arenas w/ shavings comprising the bulk of the footing, they tend to get really sloppy and hold the moisture too long , and are really nasty on a dirt subsurface. Shredded wood chips, called hog fuel in the northwest, can be alot better, but beware of where they come from, especially if they are free from the local tree service or power co. Ask what types of trees they are from - many times a melage of non-and toxic tree waste is utilised; if its free, inspect each load before they dump it, some chips may turn out to be 6+, too large, and possibly sharp. From Teressa K/ Well, actually, in my area (which isn't so far from Gary's), hog fuel comes from two different furniture factories - from one we get hardwood and the other one is cedar. The stuff isn't bark, its very coarse wood chips. Our local supplier gets it from the furniture factories and delivers it in 80 or 90 cubic yard batches for about $225. Lots of horse places use it around here because it doesn't break down as quick as bark or sawdust and for footing around the barn in the wintertime, it doesn't compact and get buried in the mud so it keeps feet dry - and water drains right through it. Gail Russell Forestville CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] Clicker List Web Site : http://clickryder.cjb.net
