Method of Reducing Mud in an Animal Stable, Pen, Paddock, or Arena

A method of remediating existing mud and preventing future mud in an area where animals with hooves are sheltered or exercised wherein the area contains an unpaved ground having soil and/or mud;

• the method comprising:
• applying a layer of geotextile barrier on top of an existing soil surface;
• providing a layer of networked geocells, wherein each geocell comprises a generally uniform sidewall forming generally almond-shaped openings, said opening defined by two end points and two mid-section points, the layer of geocells approximating a honeycomb shape wherein adjacent geocells are adhered to each other at respective end-points and mid-section points;
• said layer of geocells having an upper edge and lower edge;
• forming a new surface of the existing soil by placing the layer of geocells on top of the geotextile barrier wherein the lower edge of the honeycomb shaped geocell layer contacts the geotextile barrier;
• filling the openings of the honeycomb shaped geocell layer with aggregate matter and compacting the aggregate matter into the geocell layer;
• adding an aggregate layer on top of the filled geocell layer;
• and
• allowing at least one animal to stand or walk on top of and to distribute its weight through its hooves onto the aggregate covered geocell layer;
• whereby the geocell layer prevents mud through the distribution of weight applied to the soil by the animal's hooves over a greater area of the new surface and limiting displacement of the aggregate within each individual geocell sidewall.

A system for creating a new surface for remediating existing mud and preventing future mud in an area where animals with hooves are sheltered or exercised wherein the area contains an unpaved ground having soil and/or mud;

• the system comprising:
• a layer of networked geocells, wherein each geocell comprises a generally uniform sidewall defining an opening;
• the layer of networked geocells approximating a honeycomb shape with individual geocells connected to adjacent geocells to create the honeycomb shape with a generally planer upper surface and a generally planer lower surface;
• compacted aggregate matter of a quantity to fill the openings within the networked geocells layer.