Flexible Mud Control Grids For Horse Farms
For over a decade Lighthoof has been a leader in equine mud management - providing the best mud remediation solutions for horse paddocks, gates, run-in sheds, pasture shelters, dry lots and even stalls!
Be mud free forever with Lighthoof!
Excels on Slopes – Prevents Erosion – Minimal Base Prep
Made in the USA - 10 year warranty - Free shipping in the continental US
Lighthoof is patented for equine use - US9103087B2.
Let customers speak for us
We installed about 1109 square feet around our run in barn and automatic waterer. The horses love it (for some reason they have decided to keep it clean and not poop on it!!)
It took some hard work to get it installed but we did it all ourselves in two long weekends (we are 57 and 61 and have a loader bucket on our tractor). We had 2+ inches of rain last night and it is absolutely perfect out there. Highly recommend this product!!
I 💕 the results of the panels I have installed. Love your product!
After we used Lighthoof to save our pasture shelter (documented here https://youtu.be/KFiGkayYlko) we found that while the pasture shelter floor was great we still had some pretty deep mud right in front of the shelter. Lighthoof to the rescue again! We made a built-up ramp in front of the shelter using two Lighthoof panels and it works great!
they are life changers. Best investment we made with our paddocks.
Mavs not mad about Lighthoof. Last winter mavvy stopped using the stalls and I couldn’t understand why. Turns out bc of the mud in front of the entrance it was slippery and he became afraid of going in and out. He tried to even catapult himself in but then he’d slip on the mats. So he just quit using them. This year that has not been a problem bc there is stable footing at the entrance 🎉
I took the before pic when the mud was at its worst. I had it at that point it was enough for me to make the investment. And I will be watching for the sale! Thanks for such a great product that does exactly what you say it will.
The system has been a God-send. Living in southwest Florida, between the usual rainy season and hurricanes to boot, it is nearly impossible to keep hooves "high n' dry". Through hours of web searching, my wife came across your website in the middle of the night. She was so impressed it warranted waking me up in the middle of the night to show me the solution to all of our hoof problems. We have a very small pasture area for 2 horses so having the ability to get them off of the areas that are wet for essentially 8 months out of the year has dramatically improved the overall health of our horses.
I had a challenging situation w/ the lay of the land here. I have a horse prone to laminitis & another who gains weight by looking at grass so a dry paddock is a must. The slope of the old paddock made it a muddy mess if we got more than 2 inches at any given time...not uncommon here. The terracing was necessary to accomplish the L-shape which was the only set-up that made sense to allow plenty of space (4500sf) for the boys while dealing with the intense slope. The white barn was under water ALL winter...I couldn't take it anymore. The contractor cut out a ramp (& used Lighthoof on it) between the two levels so the boys can go back & forth. What was left of the old dirt paddock has been seeded & is full of grass already which helps with the water run-off. We've had quite a bit of rain since the project was finished in March and I have had zero water issues. I'm amazed at how the water passes right through the paddock. It's awesome. My boys don't have to stand in mud or be stalled every time it rains (less work for ME!!) so I no longer stress out when the forecast sucks. It has 100% made my daily chores so much easier and my boys actually like being in there when they are. I'm so pleased and the horses are loving their new space!
We are so happy & got done before spring rains started. Still a work in progress but we won't be working in the mud. Thanks for a wonderful product & all the install instruction. I did most if it by myself. She likes to lay down & it made me miserable to see her in the mud. Getting this done has made me so happy!
before and after pics
These are the before and after pics of our installation. Just two panels. Took two ladies about 6 hours of labor. I was going to do some short cuts...like no railroad ties around the edge, and not renting the vibrating plate to compact the stone. I watched a video Lightfoot put up of what not to do. Thank heavens for that. We followed all the videos and it turned out great! No more boot-sucking mud anymore! The mud was literally almost over my mucks!
The horses are SO much happier!
THRILLED with how it turned out and can't wait to order more in the spring.
Howdy! We followed your instructions and everything worked great. Christie on your end definitely earns a gold star for her patience and advice. Before and after pictures attached. Thanks!
I live in northern Virginia on small horse farm. Mud is a problem especially from December to April. To address the problem I decided to build a dry lot for my horses and discovered Lighthoof on the Internet. So far I have installed 17 Lighthoof panels, have 11 more I will install this fall, and plan on installing 15 to 20 more after that on until the whole paddock is done in Lighthoof.
I first installed 9 panels in April 2019 and they solved the mud problem around my barn. They worked well so I installed 8 more in April 2020 and will install more in the coming weeks. As for maintenance, I have not had to do any yet.
Attached are some pictures and descriptions.
Pic 1 in the muddy area when I started building the frame but before Lighthoof (April 2019).
Pic 2 is after installing 9 panels. This is after I used a plate compactor but before adding a layer of stone dust.
Pic 3 is after installing 8 more panels. I joined them to the panels in the front of picture 2. The picture is after I used a hand tamper and before I used a plate compactor (April 2020)
Pic 4 is Sept 2020 and as you can tell everything is fine.
My vet is impressed with the Lighthoof dry lot I built because it keeps the horses from getting hoof problems like scratches and thrush.
Lighthoof Equine Mud Management Panel
$219 per panel (includes shipping in continental USA)
LIGHTHOOF panels eliminate mud by supporting a layer of compacted gravel for your horse to walk on. Each panel is 6’ wide by 12’ long and is made up of 3” tall cells. The diameter of each expanded cell is approximately 5.5". Each panel weighs approximately 24 lbs. Volume pricing is automatically applied at checkout.
Be sure to order fabric with your panels to take advantage of the 10% discount!
Current Inventory Status - IN STOCK
| Volume Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | $208.05 | 5% off |
| 20-49 | $197.10 | 10% off |
| 50+ | $175.20 | 20% off |
SEE IT IN ACTION
Before
After
AN INSTALLATION OVERVIEW
GOT MUD?
Lighthoof is the ultimate soil stabilization solution for use in and around all areas of your farm. It is not limited to use with horses - we have many customers using with cows, goats, llamas, chickens and even pigs!
As long as you can get gravel to the site you can install over existing mud. Keep in mind that Lighthoof locks in the lay of the land, so any changes you wish to make to grade to help direct surface water flow should be made prior to installing your panels.
LAY GEOTEXTILE FABRIC
We highly recommend the use of a heavy duty (6-8 oz), non-woven geotextile fabric below your Lighthoof panels. This prevents mud from seeping up and gravel from migrating down. It will extend the life of your installation and prevent gravel loss to mud beneath. This is purchased locally and is also available through many retailers on Amazon - often with free Prime shipping!
STRETCH PANELS
Each Lighthoof panel expands to be 6'x12'. Included are 40 zip ties per panel so that each cell can be attached to the adjacent one, creating one continuous mat. Connecting each cell ensures that the panels evenly distribute weight, properly hold the compacted gravel and prevent any free edges from emerging through the surface with frost heave. If horses will have access to edges, protect them with railroad ties or pressure treated timbers.
Read more about edge protection and why it's necessary
FILL WITH GRAVEL
We recommend using 3/8" minus - a very small, angular crushed stone with fines. It needs to be highly compactable and not contain round particles such as pea gravel or sand. Quarries may have specific names for the type of gravel that fits our specifications and they may not refer to it as 3/8" minus. A standard installation will use between 1.5 - 1.75 cubic yards of gravel per panel.
DO NOT FILL WITH SAND, PEA GRAVEL, CLEAN/WASHED STONE OR OTHER NON-COMPACTING AGGREGATE
COMPACT THE STONE
Rent a vibrating plate compactor from your local Home Depot or hardware store. They are inexpensive and can often be rented in 4 hour increments. This is a critical step often missed.
Water the gravel if it is dry to aid in compaction. Run the plate compactor slowly over the panels. Once you see the diamond pattern of the cells appearing, add more gravel and compact again until the settling stops. You can then add your final loose top layer on top. 1"-2" additional is what most customers prefer.
ENJOY BEING MUD FREE... FOREVER!
Customers find that even doing a small area helps tremendously - as the horses prefer to stay on the Lighthoof areas, avoiding tender, wet ground. This usually reduces mud even in areas that do not have Lighthoof. Try just a few panels at a gate to start. We know you'll be back for more!
Watch the full installation process and find tips and tricks on our Installation page.
Buy now, pay later with
Lighthoof Specifications
- Panels expand to cover at least 6' x 12' of ground (72 sq. ft.) - cell dimensions approximately 5.5" .
- Panels cost $219 each, volume pricing is applied at checkout.
- No minimum order, all qualities ship free in the continental USA (inquire for international delivery).
- Every panels includes forty (40) heavy duty, extra strength zip ties - enough to connect every cell to an adjacent one.
- Panels collapse to a fraction of their expanded size - approximately 48" x 15" x 3" weighing 24 lbs.
- Manufactured in Houston, TX from US sourced, extruded HDPE - rated by the EPA to last 70 years underground. 10 year limited warranty.
Why Choose Lighthoof?
Lighthoof is extremely price competitive compared to other manufactured equine mud solutions available in the US.
Unlike rigid systems, Lighthoof does not require site prep or a base layer for performance. All systems require sand or gravel.
Let's evaluate 6 Lighthoof panels (432 sq ft) to other rigid plastic solutions for the same area.
For visualization this is is a 36'x12' space - or the area of three 12'x12' stalls.
| Features | Lighthoof | Rigid Grids (1.5") | Mud Control Grids |
|---|---|---|---|
| # Units | 6 | 432 | 161 |
| Total Weight of Product | 144 lbs | 630 lbs | 2372 lbs |
| Product Cost (MSRP) | $1,314.00 | $1,490.40 | $4,679.76 |
| Freight Method & Cost | UPS Ground - Included | LTL Freight - Additional | LTL Freight - Included |
| Made in USA? | No | ||
| Geotextile Fabric Recommended | |||
| Aggregate Needed? | Yes - approx 10 tons | Yes - approx 7-30 tons | Yes - approx 7 tons |
| Ground Prep Needed? | Optional - Only to adjust grade if desired | Extensive - removal of top soil, graded an sloped, gravel base of 4-12" for classic installation | Yes - 2" base recommended |
MUD IS BAD
- Constant exposure to mud causes skin and hoof conditions including scratches and white line disease
- Muddy paddocks can cause serious injury from lack of traction - pasture accidents can be career ending
- Paddocks are difficult to maintain when muddy
- Adequate manure management is impossible
- Mud reduces the perceived value of your farm
- Vehicle access is limited by deep mud
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT’S LIKE TO DO BATTLE WITH MUD!
Our founders are life-long horse people with a boarding and training facility in the Pacific Northwest housing 40 horses.
As a product design engineer and an equine husbandry expert, they put their heads together to develop a solution that would be robust enough to withstand the rigors of decades of horse use. They knew that it had to be designed specifially for this purpose - a light-duty solution was not an option!
With over a decade in “the field” (hehe!), tens of thousands of Lighthoof panels have proven themselves as lifesavers to horses and horse owners in different climates all over the world!
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