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HelenW
Bronze Member
87 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Apr 2011 : 11:22:13 AM
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Hi All.....
I'm looking to convert one of my paddocks into an arena and would be interested to hear your thoughts and comments on the different surfaces that are available. I would like it to be an all weather surface so i can still ride in our snowy/icy winters.
Any advise would be gratefully received!
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Helen
Warwickshire |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2011 : 11:43:15 AM
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I think one with rubber is less likely to freeze, sand can get frozen solid in the winter, though saying that last year my friends menage was unusable for nearly a week in all the bad weather it was frozen solid and, where we are now has the most perfect surface in the indoor I think it's the wax sand surface it's so lovely to ride on never gets deep yet it is soft, it is expensive though I am told.
Edited to say: hers was a sand with rubber on top, the big pieces of rubber not the granule type. |
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Edited by - pinkvboots on 08 Apr 2011 11:45:23 AM |
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arabianrio
Gold Member
England
1300 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2011 : 11:59:38 AM
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| I use my friends...it is big pieces of rubber on sand and great. Like Pinkyboots says sand will freeze!...this one is a bit dodgy if it is very cold..but then it is usually the sand that is the frozen part....and it doesn't take too long to defrost itself. |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2011 : 2:28:52 PM
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Our arena is at the bottom of a hill so we were not too sure how it would work but its fantastic, we put good drainage in and we had sand in then large rubber pieces on top, its been down 9 yrs now and its still in daily use either to ride in or turn out in.The best thing to do is go and look at as many as you can, best of luck  |
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Silver
Silver Member
279 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2011 : 3:40:53 PM
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| The thing to get right is the base,good drainage is important just as much as the surface. |
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2011 : 5:07:21 PM
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I have cushion ride, it's woodfibre. I'm really pleased with it.
Over the winter, when we had temps of minus 14, I only had about two days where it was too frozen to ride on.
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shfwarrior
Silver Member
England
311 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2011 : 5:35:54 PM
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| so much depends on your local conditions, we are on flat windy land so anything that mixes with the sand is a no no it blows away!!!!! speak to the surface manufacturing companies, go and see any local arenas that you can speak to as many different people as possible and get the best that you can afford. The drainage is important, if your ground is wet then you need more if it is dry its different again, doing your homework locally is by far the best. sue |
   
Dymchurch,Kent |
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HelenW
Bronze Member
87 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2011 : 10:40:12 PM
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| Wow I never thought that the surface could be blown away. The area I'm considering converting is next to a natural lake as I thought that I could get the arena to drain into it. We are quite high and therefore can be exposed to the elimants. I had considered a chopped form of rubber for the top surface. (thought it may be a softer landing when I start to back Alfie) |
Helen
Warwickshire |
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Topic |
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Arena Surfaces advise needed please
