Delivering Durability for Cambridge Equestrian Facilities
A horse walker base presents a unique set of punishing conditions, which is why the Custom Concrete team was asked to provide the concrete for it. Unlike a standard agricultural yard slab, the concrete track layout is designed to make horses walk the exact same path daily, focusing tons of shifting weight onto a narrow, curved radius.
For this recent project just outside Cambridge, the groundworks team needed a structural foundation that could handle this localised stress without cracking or scaling.
The above image shows our team on-site, positioning the truck to feed the circular formwork. Setting up a durable base in a rural equestrian environment demands a mix that cures hard, seals tight, and resists the damage from waste and washdowns that’s common in livestock areas.
Specifying Concrete for Maximum Impact Resistance
We specified a C35 mix strengthened with polypropylene fibres for this pour. C35 concrete delivers a highly dense, durable mix that will resist heavy point loading. The addition of fibres acts as an internal, multi-directional reinforcement.
Traditional steel mesh holds concrete together after it cracks, whereas the fibres work while the concrete is still wet and curing, reducing plastic shrinkage cracks.
This fibre-mesh provides three other important advantages for a horse walker track:
- Impact Resistance – It absorbs shocks from shod hooves without crushing the surface.
- Abrasion Control – It stops the top layer from developing dusting or scaling under constant friction.
- Moisture Defence – It provides a seal for the slab, protecting it against water and animal waste.
The Custom Concrete Fleet – No Waste, Fresh Concrete
Getting the mix right is half the battle; the other half is all about delivery. For this Cambridge project, we used one of our recently upgraded volumetric mixing trucks. We’re delighted our new, bespoke MS-2 Mixer has consistently and directly translated into better, more reliable concrete deliveries on-site.
Because our volumetric trucks carry the raw ingredients separately and mix the concrete only when we’re in position for the pour, there’s no risk of the mix starting to set during the transit from our yard to Cambridge. The concrete is always absolutely fresh.
More importantly, we mix only what the job requires. On rural projects where measurements can change slightly once excavation begins, our upgraded trucks allow us to adjust the exact volume or fine-tune the consistency, saving our client from over-ordering or being left with waste concrete to dispose of.
Delivering a Crack-Resistant Finish for Cambridge Hooves
Repetitive hoof traffic needs a surface that can take the strain for the long-term. By delivering an on-site mixed C35 fibre concrete straight to this Cambridge horse walker layout, we were able to guarantee fresh concrete with maximum workability and a high-impact, crack-resistant finish tailored exactly to our client’s requirements.
Need a high-spec, durable concrete mix delivered fresh to your project? Speak to the Custom Concrete team today to guarantee the exact volume and strength your groundwork requires across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire – 01525 861899.