The Magic of Mud Grid

Interview by Lisa Kiley with Elizabeth Hueftlein of Hahn Plastics LLC | Published in The Horsemen’s Corral March 2023.

The weather this winter has kept us guessing, bouts of cold and snow followed by warmer temperatures and rain in a continual cycle. While we may not know from one week to the next if we will have high winds and sixty-degree weather or a foot of snow to shovel, there is one thing that is a constant staple if you have horses at home, and that is MUD.

The fluctuation in temperature has meant that mud has stuck with us through the winter and going into spring it doesn’t seem like it will be drying up anytime soon. Mud is bothersome but can be downright dangerous for our horses to maneuver in and these types of conditions can ruin pastures before they ever get the chance to start growing this spring. Fortunately, there are some great solutions to help mitigate the mud with immediate results.

I was able to talk with Elizabeth Hueftlein of Hahn Plastics, LLC about the revolutionary product they manufacture, known as ‘Mud Grids’. These grids are made of 100% recycled plastic material and they can be applied directly over existing mud. Hueftlein explained that the mud under the grids works as a ‘glue’ to hold the slabs together, so it is best to lay the grids where mud already exists. Which is one of the reasons that they are such a handy product, most other mud solutions require work to be done before the mud is an issue whereas the grids have an instant application. The grids are just under 20”x 20” and weigh about 15 lbs. each. There are tabs around the grids that allow them to fit together.

Hueftlein advised that the reason that the grids work so well is because they allow for the distribution of the weight of the horse over a greater surface area. Horses carry all their weight on a four-point load which is a very concentrated area and why they specifically can cause quite a bit of damage to the ground resulting in issues with mud. The grids allow this weight to be disbursed over the surface, much like the idea of how snowshoes work. Putting mud grids into action, Hueftlein suggests that placing at least nine grids in an area can give you a good idea of how they work together to stay above the mud. Of course, she recommends that the more grids in an area, the more stability due to the increased distribution of weight on the additional grids.

As far as installation goes, the process is quite simple. The grids can be laid out over top of the existing mud. The only ground preparation needed is to fill in holes or rake down high mound areas, but there is no need to level the area or use any heavy equipment. Hueftlein recommends that the grids are staggered to give them the most stability when laying them down. She also suggested that when laying down the first row, that you wait to step on the grids until you have the next row attached which prevents the tabs from sinking into the mud before they are attached to the next grid. She also advised to then cut the grids, so they have a squared off corner. This can be done with a circular saw using a ½” hard wood blade. By squaring off the corners, it helps prevent a horse from disrupting the edge grids which could cause a ripple effect of shifting and lifting throughout the surface. Similarly, covering the exposed tabs on the edges of the project area will protect them from a misplaced horse hoof. For larger projects you will want to consult the spec sheets to make sure that you are following best practices.

Once the grids are laid down, Hueftlein advises that a layer of material like sand be used to add extra traction over the surface. While the grids have some slip resistant properties, different conditions such as ice and snow require more attention. She also mentioned that some of the projects that she has worked on spread grass seed under the mud grids before laying them out which allowed for grass to grow providing additional traction and grazing opportunity with the roots being protected from the horse’s feet. Through the seasons, keeping the grids cleared from manure, debris, and snow, will help them to continue to work as intended for many years to come. These impressive grids also come with a manufacture warranty.

In addition to application with horses, Hueftlein suggested many other uses for the grids around the barn and home. These grids are great for a range of livestock from cattle to chickens. They can offer a dry space not only for animals to stand on, but as bases around feeders to help prevent hay waste. They can also be used in driveways, for parking heavy equipment, RV’s, horse trailers or anything else that you may need to keep out of the mud. The grids are capable of handling heavy equipment driving over them, so they have applications in industrial and agricultural usage alike. She described that most places that have used mud grid in one situation like a sacrifice area for their horses, will inevitably find many other uses around the farm where they will prove helpful.

When asked if there were any applications where Hueftlein would not suggest use of the Mud Grid, there were only two areas that stood out. First, she advised that if the ground is more water than mud, such as a very sloppy manure based situation, soil may need to be added to create enough stability to allow the grids to work. The Mud Grids can float in water, so if there is an area that gets a bunch of water run off or goes underwater at certain times in the year, this may not be the best solution. Also, if you are starting a new project where no mud currently exists, she recommends a different product that Hahn Plastics offers – the Paddock Slab. This product does require some initial ground preparation and backfill, but it will prevent mud so it never becomes a problem that needs to be remedied.

Next month, we will cover some additional information on Paddock Slabs and some of the best applications for that product. For more information about Mud Grids, visit www.cashmans.com to check out installation videos and use our calculator to see how many grids you will need for your project.