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This brief guide is intended to provide horse and pony owners and keepers with information about ways in which they can reduce damage to frequently trodden areas immediately surrounding field gateways. Please be aware that the information on this page is available with pictures as a PDF at the end of the page.
Surrey is a beautiful County with 73% recognised as Green Belt and over 25% designated within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Increasing horse numbers are creating a visible impact throughout Surrey and so measures must be taken to ensure this impact is positive.
Field gateways need to be able to withstand hoof pressures throughout the year in addition to vehicular access for grassland management purposes. Good pasture management and rotational use of land will minimise damage and allow resting time for land recovery and regeneration. Horse husbandry that is tailored to individual needs will also reduce damage to areas surrounding gateways by avoiding horses standing at field entrances, waiting to be brought in.
The frequent leading of horses and ponies through gateways damages grass growth and disturbs soil structure. Unsightly bare patches form during the summer, which turn to poached grass-less areas of deep mud during the winter.
Unfortunately, even the best grassland management cannot eliminate gateway problems, but ground reinforcement can help greatly. Advance preparation and action is far more effective and practical than trying to solve problems as they occur!
The welfare of horses and ponies must be the primary consideration. Grass provides a natural cushioning surface that is both comfortable for horses to stand on and kind on their limbs. In comparison poached, unlevelled areas without grass are uncomfortable to stand on and look unsightly. Even worse, the bacteria that thrives in wet muddy conditions during winter can cause skin infections, commonly known as mud fever and cracked heels.
Gates should be easy for authorised humans to open but robust and strong with a secure fastening. Reversible hinges can make gateways more versatile and widths must be a minimum of 3.66m (12ft) to allow machinery for grassland management and hay cutting to pass. Bottom rails on gates should either be close to the ground or sufficiently high to prevent horses' shoes or hooves becoming caught or trapped. The top-rail must be an adequate height: around 1.22m (4ft) is standard. Whenever possible, gateways should be located on naturally elevated areas of pasture rather than in hollows where rain can collect.
A few simple measures can be taken to discourage horses from spending more time around gateways than is absolutely essential. For example locate water troughs well away from gateways and if it is necessary to feed hay or supplement blocks at grass, place these sufficiently far away from gates and frequently trodden fence-lines. Feeding in different places will prevent bare patches of ground forming.
Most ground damage is caused when horses congregate expectantly around gates towards feed times or at the end of the day. If it is possible to install more than one gateway to a field, this will allow alternating use between them. If the use of wooden slip rails is a practical option, this will present a relatively inexpensive means of installing several entrance and exit points from grazing. This will also be useful if sub-dividing of fields is carried out. Similarly, if electric tape is used, several insulated gate handles may be installed in different places, presenting lightweight traditional gate alternatives.
Laying a different surface and improving drainage around a gateway will also help. Plan ahead for the delivery of heavy materials and so that work can be carried out in reasonable weather. It is advisable to check that work is acceptable with your Local Planning Authority before undertaking long-term gateway improvements. Any gateway surfacing needs to avoid impeding drainage. If necessary, move the gateway and/or put in a drainage system, e.g. a french drain or fin drain. Drainage improvements and surfacing work are best carried out whilst the ground is dry and before damage has occurred. Otherwise, the use of equipment will be restricted, the amount of manual labour involved will increase and additional surfacing materials will be required to allow for the possibility of some material sinking as it is laid. Consider long-term maintenance, for instance PVC perforated underground drainpipes will assist drainage but will gradually become clogged with soil. Resurfacing options include:
Road planings, sand, limestone scalpings or other aggregate may be used alone to surface gateways in light use. Topping up will be necessary at least every few years to maintain the surface. Gateways in more frequent use, or used by a number of horses will require a more substantial surface in order to prevent damage. Take care not to encourage horses to feed around ground that has been surfaced with sand, in order to avoid sand-related digestive problems occurring.
Creating a raised concrete pad will provide a long-term solution, provided the levels are carefully planed to ensure that surface water is carried away without creating another waterlogged area alongside it. Professional assistance is likely to be required to create a concrete pad. Note that over time, a concrete pad may erode around the edges, creating a raised lip.
A surface of hardcore and aggregate will usually be cheaper to lay than concrete and can be removed more simply if clearance becomes necessary. The resulting surface tends to be less slippery than concrete and provides a kinder footing to horses but will break down with time as the aggregate breaks under hoof pressure. Simply placing a layer of bricks like a mosaic on top of soil will not be sufficient to prevent ground damage and can even lead to hoof injuries when gaps form between bricks.
Instead, aggregate must be sufficiently deep and underlain with an adequate sub-base. Hardcore is a hardwearing sub-base but must be "clean", i.e. with no potentially damaging metal or glass content. Flint rejects are also suitable for use as a sub-base but require a good covering layer of aggregate to prevent flints being broken down into sharp dangerous splinters.
A geotextile membrane is sometimes laid over soil, beneath the hardcore layer to help retain the structure of a gateway surface. However, over a period of time, if the surface is not kept sufficiently topped up, hooves may break through the aggregate and damage the geotextile layer.
Before a hardcore sub-base can be laid and topped with an aggregate upper surface, the existing soil surface must be dug out. In order to accommodate a good, thick layer of hardcore plus a sufficient topping of aggregate, a depth of 28-41cm (11-16ins) will need to be dug. Aim to lay a thick layer of hardcore in the region of 20-30cm (8-12ins), as this will bind together to form a raft over even the worst soil conditions. If a gateway is known to become particularly wet in winter, use a deeper layer of hardcore. An aggregate top surface of around 7.5-10cm (3-4ins) should then be laid. The surface should be laid so it is slightly domed and raised above the surrounding ground in order to shed water. The surface will require levelling and compacting, preferably using a vibrating roller. The top surface will require topping up when the hardcore starts to show through - the length of time will depend on the amount of use the gateway is subjected to, but on average topping-up will be necessary every few years. A well-constructed and well-maintained gateway surface should last for decades.
Rubber matting is another option for gateways where drainage assistance is not needed. Purpose designed non-slip mats can be purchased which have grooves on the underside to prevent any movement. Alternatively, rubber tiles with perforations can be used which reinforce the ground and allow the grass to grow through. Both may be used directly on existing surfaces and provide a soft surface alternative but it would be advisable to seek the manufacturer's advice.
Following gateway improvements, reseeding of the surrounding area may be necessary to initiate new growth where grass has previously been badly damaged. Reseeding is best undertaken in the spring when the mild temperatures and rain will assist seed germination. This will also allow roots the opportunity to strengthen over the summer. Alternatively, reseeding may be carried out during autumn. Rather than introducing new species of grass, it is preferable to reseed with a species that is already growing within the pasture. Harrowing prior to seeding and rolling afterwards will assist the establishment of new grass. Horses will need to be kept off reseeded areas until the new grass is strong enough to tolerate hoof pressure.
Poached gateways look unsightly and limit access for grassland management: they also present health risks for equines and safety issues for handlers. Reinforcing ground surrounding gateways does not need to be a costly venture: improvements can be undertaken on all budget levels. The key to maintaining gateways in good condition is similar to all land management practices - think and plan ahead! This will improve your horse's welfare and the appearance and quality of grazing. Other areas of pasture subject to heavy use (e.g. around water troughs) may also benefit from surfacing with concrete or hardcore and aggregate.
Primary Aggregate: Quarried minerals such as sand, gravel and crushed rock.
Large pieces of material, for example concrete, brick, breezeblock, etc. Hardcore used for gateway surfacing may be referred to as secondary aggregate. This term describes materials containing primary aggregate but which have already been used and so are classed as recycled. Examples include demolition rubble or crushed concrete. Be aware that standard hardcore may contain glass, china, steel and other materials. 'Clean' hardcore (i.e. with no potentially damaging metal or glass content) can be requested from skip companies.
A drainage system which channels water through a filter before it enters a drainage pipe, thereby reducing the likelihood of the pipe becoming blocked with silt. Fin drains take up little room and work efficiently.
A closed or covered drainage route, used as an alternative to a pipe or open ditch where water needs to be removed from a point (such as a hard standing) and required to flow away under ground. A French drain consists of a ditch (dug to a depth of approximately 30cm/12ins) that is filled with large rubble and topped with a free-draining smaller primary or secondary aggregate, e.g. gravel or road planings. Note that water can soak away into the ground along the line of a french drain. Also be aware that the drain will silt up and so should be considered to have a limited life.
A drainage base-layer, designed to stop surfacing material or hardcore from sinking into soft soil.
Quarried gravel with a clay component for binding. If the clay content is high, hoggin may poach. Be aware that hoggin may contain large flints.
Recycled tarmac 'planed' off roads using machinery. Planings may have a high bitumen content, may vary in size and contain aggregate materials such as gravel.
Limestone aggregate that is available in various grades and sizes.
The advice note is also available in a PDF version by following the link below.
Guidance on protecting paddock gateway surfaces
http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/?a=200552
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