After Irene and the week of rain, the footing outside my horse stalls became like quicksand. It was pouring and I threw the soiled straw and hay into the muck hoping to make it better. It didn't. Now its still wet, not drying. I want to remove it and put down stone. Im using a pitchfork right now, and the ground around is still major messed up from having horses sinking over their ankles and churning it all up, so going anywhere with this stuff is difficult. What do you recommend?

Nuttyputty, I would suggest renting a small backhoe to do the job.

Tick

That would be too easy!! I'm actually making some headway. Using the muck I take out, I am slowly filling the holes in the destroyed yard area.
Im probably making more of a mess like the cat in the hat but renting a backhoe is not in the budget. Don't think I haven't thought of that.
What I'm doing is getting the straw muck loose and out with the fork then getting the dirt and stones with a shovel.
I forgot to mention the flat stones someone put there that was not horse worthy. They tipped up in the mud and muck and the horses went down between them.
It stinks and its heavy but a little at a time and I may get this done. I want to put stone and dust on top. How deep would you recommend I make the hole?

Nuttyputty, I will leave the last of your question up to another expert more worthy then I, who is only a gardener and not having to dig big holes.

Tick

How big as hole are we talking about? Back to you, nTom