How Lighthoof Fixes Your Horse's Mud. For Good.
Lighthoof is a 6 foot by 12 foot long panel made of 3" tall flexible plastic strips welded together to create hundreds of fist-sized cells.
Once filled with compacted gravel, the cells have the strength to sustain the weight of even the largest of draft horses (they can even support tractors, trucks, and farm vehicles!), and the density to keep even the smallest of mini or goat hooves from sinking in and tearing up the ground.
Lighthoof holds gravel in place to support the ground that supports your horse.
Because Lighthoof panels are stretchy and flexible, they can conform to imperfectly shaped and unlevel paddocks and won't crack or heave in a thaw.
It's simple
Plan your project by visualizing your high traffic areas and the flow of water. Stretch the Lighthoof panels out to cover your needs and then compact gravel into the cells. Do it once and keep it clean, and you and your horses can be mud-free. Forever.
It's strong!
Based on an invention by the Us Army Corps of Engineers for creating sturdy gravel roads through seemingly impossible terrain. It can hold trucks, tanks, and of course your horses.
It's supportive.
The surface that Lighthoof creates is non-slippery, stable for hoof traffic, and easy to clean to prevent injury or infection. It also prevents erosion and undercutting of your buildings and fence posts due to hoof compaction or runoff.
It's safe.
Lighthoof is certified by the EPA for a minimum 70 year lifespan and is chemically inert so it can't leach into your groundwater or degrade in your soil. Although the panels stay buried in the ground, the flexible plastic walls are gentle on skin and hooves if they ever do come in contact with your horse.
Put an End to Your Mud Troubles Once and for All
Lighthoof's flexible plastic equine mud management panels support your paddock and gate area footing so that you can be mud-free. Forever.
The problem...
Deep mud on horse farms is created when horse's hooves press down on soft, wet ground. High traffic areas such as gates, fence lines, and smaller paddocks get damaged quickly by hoof pressure and overgrazing prevents grass roots from holding the earth in place.
Even areas that have gravel or bark on top of the dirt will turn into mud after some time because of the extreme pressure and downward action of the hooves.
Plus, horses add 50 pounds of manure every day to the paddock surface that holds moisture and creates, even more, mud if it is not easily removed.
The ground needs help to stay strong.
Lighthoof equine mud management panels provide the structure and stability that your paddock footing needs to support your horse.
That's where Lighthoof comes in.
Lighthoof is made up of flexible, High Density Polyethylene strips that confine gravel in a series of 3" deep interconnecting cells. This limits the displacement of footing from the downward action of the hooves, and holds it in place. Lighthoof protects your paddock footing against erosive forces such as heavy rainfall and runoff, creating a solid, even surface.
Lighthoof Does These Key Things
- Gives tree-root-like structure to your paddock base
- Prevents erosion or mixing of the paddock footing
- Raises your horse 3+ inches above the muddy ground
- Protects and preserves your gravel investment
- Creates a safe and easy to maintain surface
Fits Your Farm Like a Glove
Because Lighthoof panels are flexible and can be trimmed to fit with scissors, it's not such a huge ordeal to create mud-free areas on your farm. You can install them around current structures and fence lines without major excavation or equipment.
I installed my Lighthoof panels in front of my new run in shelter, about 9 months ago. I am super happy with it. Have been recommending it to everyone, esp. the boarding barns with high traffic.
My two mares have 3/4 acre to run around in, but have spent 95% of their time on the gravel pad. This means that 95% of the manure and urine end up on the Lighthoof as well, yet there are no smelly or wet areas.
It is very easy to clean the surface of the crushed rock. Overall, it was very easy for me and my young assistant to install in one day.
Dr. Sarah Jane Owens DVM MRCVS
Simple and Brilliant
Lighthoof's patented mud management solution works by holding the gravel in place in flexible 3" deep cells. The cells support the gravel and the gravel supports your horse.
Ready for a One and Done Solution?
We know adding Lighthoof to your property is an investment. After spending thousands of dollars on loose gravel, bark, and other temporary solutions most horse owners are ready to give up and move somewhere drier.
So you can believe how happy we were to see the long lasting and low maintenance results we achieved with our own personal Lighthoof installations.
If you are adding new material every year or doing constant digging of drainage to keep water out of crucial areas in your horse paddocks, installing Lighthoof will take a huge burden off your future farm budget and labor.
At Red Fern Stables, horses have 24/7 access to paddocks off of their stalls.
We'd tried several other solutions to keep these areas pristine year-round for our client's horses and found that we were having to invest more money each season to prevent mud issues.
We chose Lighthoof because we wanted a permanent solution that would provide the horses with a safe and clean outdoor living area without us having to redo the footing year after year.
Lars Knudsen, Owner - Red Fern Stables
For something that can hold up a horse, it's pretty darn easy to install...
Installing Lighthoof is as simple as laying it on the ground and filling it with compacted gravel. Learn more about how to finesse the grade and protect the edges by watching our installation video and reviewing our pro tips. We will send you everything you need to become an expert.
Free Shipping Anywhere in the Continental US
Horses need Lighthoof all over this fine country. In case you're not where we are, we make it easy by offering free shipping right to your farm. If you and your horses are abroad, we have options for you as well, contact us for help.
I LOVE my horse’s mud-free gate area!
My horse, Jobim, enjoys his acre of beautiful grass turnout at the lovely River Run Ranch year-round, but our NW rainy season can last from October to June, rendering the front 10 feet where he has to walk through his gate everyday a muddy, slippery mosh pit.
I installed an 8’ x 21’ section of Lighthoof Equine paddock base panels in January, literally in the rain, over existing deep mud and muck in a single afternoon.
Truly, if I could do it with the help of one friend, anyone can! It covers the highest traffic area-his entrance and exit path near the gate, and it remained blissfully dry through our wet winter into the soggy spring.
I would recommend this product to anyone wanting a safe, affordable, and easy to maintain solution to equine mud problems.
Mary Frizzell at River Run Ranch
Additional Information
Read our FAQs page or download our free planning kit for more information.
We also have multiple informational videos that you can view through our YouTube channel.
Ready to order but need help with installation? No problem! Contact us to locate an installer near you, or simply download the Easy Installation Guide and work with any contractor of your choice.
