After deliberating the pros and cons, I have decided to construct a mud proof "pad" for my 6 X 9 covered Frey Brothers hay feeder.  I board, and feed 14 horses from this feeder.  We compost our manure, and prior attempts at gravel, etc. have ended with too much of that in the compost.  We scrape manure and old hay with a backhoe bucket, have tried a york rake, etc.  Just want a cleaner alternative.  I know many of you will say the surface is too hard, but I think the amount of wasted hay we have from big bale feeding will result in a cushion at least for the front legs, and am willing to hazard that, as opposed to deep mud footing.

Any good suggestions will be appreciated -- asphalt?  concrete?  anything else I don't know about?  I have to be able to use big equipment to clean, so mats are out. Plan to score any surface for grip.

Thanks much.

Don't worry about a cement pad, it should work well. I would steer away from asphalt. It can be hotter in the summer, softer and will break away easier if you don't keep the surround material well packed and solid around it. It would also be more prone to frost heaves than cement. Asphalt also needs maintenance of fresh oil or tar every year or so so and cement should be maintenance free.

I installed a cement feeder pad about 20 years ago to combat sand colic.  No leg or hoof problems and no sand impaction since.

Marla