Alternative to building an expensive menege??

[fools_ gold]

I need to build a temporary arena to ride on, I have been doing some costings on a proper menege with drainage and various different surfaces but it is just totally out of my reach at the moment. So I need to save up.

But I thought until I have enough money I need something as I am really struggling, the fields are now like concrete, and last month they were like an ice rink... So what could I do?

My last livery yard had a lunge pen that just had sand over mud, now it obviously wasn't perfect but much better than what I have at the moment.

Do you think it would work if I put a membrane over the mud, then laid a sand surface over that? I know it may puddle when it rains, but I think it would be better than what I currently have.

It will only be me with my two horses using it, and I am totally up for daily maintenance, rolling/ leveling - what ever needs doing.

Just wanted to know if anyone has done this, and what your experiences were... Is it a complete waste of money or better than nothing?

Also if anyone has done this, what materials did you use, I know silica sand is the best for a menege, but if I was to do it as above is it worth paying the extra for silica sand, or could I just use sharp sand or something????

As always many thanks in advance for your help!

 

[staceyn]

I am not sure but we are getting a 25x20 arena properly built for 3k including everything and labour although we are doing all the work ourselves I can give you the contacts and ways to make it cheaper its my expertise to bargain hunt for good prices

 

[fools_ gold]

Hi Staceyn, I'm afraid 20x25 would be much too small for me, I costed a 20x60 at around £3500 with us doing all the work, but that is way out of my budget right now. Thanks for your reply though- for now I have about£1000 or there abouts

 

[staceyn]

Hmm if I was you I maybe would just put some gravel down unless its already hard, then a cheap membrane and chuck some sand down. Beach sand is fine I know a lot of arenas used with it. I would just make sure the membrane was under something heavy so it won't come up through the sand it will be fine I can't see why not

 

[staceyn]

Chuck road plannings down if you need surface to be hard. If not just membrane get it off eBay, then beach sand

 

[lazybee]

I went for the cheap option and it's held up much better than expected.

I put ours in the corner of a large paddock and about 40X30mtrs. I wanted something big enough to do carriage cone work, there was already drainage ditches on two sides. The soil underneath was clay with grass on top. I put chestnut post and rail all the way round, bought direct from the woodcutter/post maker (two trips with the horse trailer). Then fitted a retaining plank all the way around the inside nailed to bottom of the posts; to hold the sand in. Then ordered the sand directly from the quarry, so they just drove in and tipped it where I wanted it. It was more luck than judgement that the sand just happened to be of the right properties (quite well draining and not too hard). If I had to do it again I would visit the quarry first to make sure the sand is suitable, just in case. It was deep enough to kill the grass underneath. It has to be glyphosated a couple of times a year as the odd weed self seeds in it. I harrow it now and again with one of my driving horses.

The truth is though I hardly ever use it now the novelty has worn off. I'm starting a youngster off in the next few weeks though, so I'll start using it again.

I open it up to the paddock in the winter so the horses have to walk though it to get to the yard so we don't get any mud at the gate.

 

[fools_ gold]

Ah great. Thanks for your suggestion. Have been looking at membranes, there are quite a few different types, which did you use?

 

[fools_ gold]

Lazybee, cross posted with you. Good to know you have done this and it worked. How deep is your sand?

 

[lazybee]

Didn't use any membrane. It's 7yrs old and I've had no problems at all.\







Some friends of ours had one built for a small fortune and some of the membrane is coming up to the surface

 

[lazybee]

Another cross post about 4 to 6" (100 to 150mm) average over the area

 

[fools_ gold]

Ah brill, thanks Lazybee. I'm really struggling with schooling my two without an arena so feel much happier that you have done this with success. Do you find it puddles at all?

 

[lazybee]

It does puddle a little bit occasionally but not much and the puddles don't last very long. I still think I was lucky with the clay underneath and the type of sand I got. It really could have gone either way. Could you perhaps do a small area through a gateway or somewhere that gets used a lot of use and see how it bears up. You could probably just use a couple of trailer loads of sand. It could save you a lot of money. That's what I should have done.

 

[Zargon_91]

Woodchip enclosed with railway sleepers might work! that way it will sorta self drain, you wont need a membrane and it will degrade so you shouldnt need to dig it up again when you can have a propper on put in... also wont need planning as it wont have permenant drainage or membrane down

 

[fools_ gold]

zargon - Yes, I did consider woodchip, but kind of ruled it out as I know it can get slippery and degrades

I thought if I used sand, then hopefully when I come to build a proper arena I could use the sand I already have.

Lazybee - That's a good idea, I think a test area would be helpful. I was thinking of just using normal builders type sand. I'm sure there was a show I used to go to when I was younger that had outdoor paddocks with that yellowy builders type sand, they did get puddles but never slippery and it gave you an extra incentive not to fall off.

Off to google planning restrictions, we are in the middle of nowhere with no over looking neighbors so could probably get away with just putting the sand down, and if anyone asks saying it's a turnout paddock or something?... anyone know?

 

[Zargon_91]

Also might be worth emailing all local equestrian centres/ show centres on the offchance they are getting new surfaces and could sell you the old one?

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

zargon - Yes, I did consider woodchip, but kind of ruled it out as I know it can get slippery and degrades

I thought if I used sand, then hopefully when I come to build a proper arena I could use the sand I already have.

Lazybee - That's a good idea, I think a test area would be helpful. I was thinking of just using normal builders type sand. I'm sure there was a show I used to go to when I was younger that had outdoor paddocks with that yellowy builders type sand, they did get puddles but never slippery and it gave you an extra incentive not to fall off.

Off to google planning restrictions, we are in the middle of nowhere with no over looking neighbors so could probably get away with just putting the sand down, and if anyone asks saying it's a turnout paddock or something?... anyone know?

You only need planning if permanent. Sand on grass with sleepers is fine without planning, just watch out for people moaning if they dont know its not permanent as council may come round and find a reason to moan! Also if the land is grazing land and not equestrian you can get into trouble over temp surfaces, jumps ect ect

 

[fools_ gold]

badgermeyer - thanks, I thought it was something like that, to be honest I don't think anyone would even see it to complain.

 

[fools_ gold]

Staceyn - This is probably a stupid question, but when you say beach sand, do you mean people just go and help them selves to sand off the beach? Probably not, but had to ask?

 

[Bennions Field]

I built my menage myself with the help of the local mini digger driver, it didnt need planning permission as it is built on top of the field. and despite two visits from the local planners due to people reporting me, they both confirmed that it didnt need planning

i did put three big land drains in under it, these dont need planning, which meant digging three trenches around 2 foot deep, lined with membrane and filled with pipe and stone. these drain into the big drainage ditch at the end of my field, so cart all the water off safely. i then put membrane down on top of the leveled soil, again topped with 6" of stone, another membrane and then wood chip (ranfords in shropshire) its the stuff used for gallops in the racing industry not the stuff with bark still attached. To finish off the sides i got scaffold planks and used the posts to fence it to retain the surface. it works very well, the soil around the edges then buts up to the scaffold planks.

the menage very rarely freezes, never floods and after 7 years is still as good as the day it was made. it cost very little compared to what others have paid, and to be honest the wood chips were the most expenses part, the membranes were a few hundred quid, and the stone was direct from local quaries, i did shop around and knock down prices, its worth a few phone calls. but all in all i am sooooo pleased with it, its used by myself only a few times a week so i wouldnt say its been abused, and i chain harrow it level every couple of weeks as it also keeps weeds out.

it can be done cheaply but with plenty of hard work, its well worth all the effort.

 

[fools_ gold]

Thanks Bennions field, brilliant advice, everything you have said I have looked into but I still can't get the costs down enough. Do you mind me asking how much it cost you with the drains etc.

Ideally I would like to put in at least basic drainage, but as far as I can work out, for the money I have, I can pretty much only afford the sand - and that's not using silica sand.

Argh, why didn't I take up knitting as a hobby, so much cheaper!

 

[staceyn]

Haha funny ! The aggregate people who get it get it off the beach yes but we can't we have to get it off them call around I managed a price of £12 per tonn if I payed cash

 

[staceyn]

Was also told I could use grit sand it can wear down feet but suppose you would save on the farrier but round here for me beach sand was the cheapest option, also heard people use sharp sand and river sand