Surface for all-weather arena

convert

I know there have been a few similar threads over the last while re. arena building, etc. but this one is slightly difference, hence the new thread!

I have an all-weather arena at home which currently has a woodchip surface. This has been great over the last number of years, but it has become a little soggy and heavy and is a bit too heavy to work in when it's been raining heavily, so it's time to replace it.

I replaced it a few years ago with more woodchip, but this time I'd like to try something different as I don't think the woodchip is best suited to what I want.

Basically the arena is multi-purpose - I use it mostly for slow cantering work to get the horses fit for racing (when the ground is too soft/hard to work in the fields) but also need a surface which will be suited for flatwork and schooling work for my showjumpers/show horses.

Everyone has their preferences as to what works best for them, so I said I'd ask for people's experiences with different types of surfaces and ask what you'd recommend.

Thanks

Chindato

I can recommend the surface I'm using - a mix of lime-free sand (aka "Wexford sand"), with Klopf fibres from Martin Collins power-harrowed into the top two inches. The klopf is basically synthetic carpet fibres chopped up. Once mixed with the sand, it forms a sort of root system - rather than go down into the sand, the horses get a grip of the surface, which has a bit of bounce. I know some racing yards are using this mix on their gallops - I have it down on an outdoor arena, used mostly for dressage and some jumping with young stock. I've had it down about 3 years, and it's as good as the day it went down. The only thing is that weeds & grass seed well in it - but if you let horses into the arena every few days, they keep this down to a minimum. Like I said, I'd recommend it.
HTH
Chindato

finbarrk

The crushed glass seems to drain very well. Lots of the racing men have it in their gallops now anyway. It was around €400 a lorry load last year, could be cheaper now.
http://www.glassrecycling.ie/

Visteks

Really, i can suggest you only that type of all-weather synthetic surfaces but i'm not really sure is it actual now or not for you...
You can look it here: allweatherequestriansurface .com

convert

Please don't drag up zombie threads just to pimp your website.

/Thread closed.