Arena build - diy

[stencilface]

Thought I would just do a little diary of our arena build, and add pics as and when. We got our PP last year, but only just now have things come together at the right time with dry ground etc.

So for the next two weeks, we have managed to snag one of the best machine drivers at the OHs work to get our arena started, and hopefully somewhere near finished. His 20 tonne machine arrive this afternoon, and had to be reversed on the low loader down the steep single track lane to our access track - luckily being lunchtime it was quiet and no traffic wanted to go down!

The arena will be a 20 x 40, and is set on a slope near to our stables, the slope goes in two different directions, so there will be lots of cut and fill and batter slopes at a 1:2 slope.

Machine arriving

Bye bye down the steep hill! :eek3:

Some pics - before
Can see the OHs neat batter rails, we did those and some basic levels last night in the rain - fun times

Looking downhill

This evening, after 3-4 hours of machining, topsoil stripped!

The only thing we haven't decided definitely on yet is the top surface - ah! Can anyone tell me who their sand supplier was? I think we are going for sand with a fibre top, but as yet haven't found a reliable supplier for the sand.

 

[Tronk]

So exciting!!! Lovely to see pics. We are just finishing ours so fascinating to see yours! I'll attempt to post some pics in a mo- never done it before :-/

We're using Fibresand (F22) from Mansfield Sand, with a rubber topping from Springride. Sand is arriving tomorrow!!!

 

[stencilface]

Thankyou - will look that up! How long has it taken to do yours?

 

[Tronk]

Digger has been here 12 days so far- reckon it'll be 15/16 days in total. Ours is 30 X 40 though. We had a 90cm drop from one end to the other so the levelling was a big job. You will need to get your sand ordered as they make to order.

 

[stencilface]

The maximum fall across the arena area is 3.5m! Levelling is going to be the big one, which is why I'm glad we have a brilliant machine driver. We are putting the fencing on the edges of the slope, and not next to the kickboards around the arena though, so if that doesn't get done within 2 weeks then its not a big problem.

It means that free schooling etc won't really work, but its for our use only, so I don't think thats a bit problem. I'm going to seed wildflower meadow grass on the banked edges, and hope that the seed will transfer into the field.

Thanks for the heads up on the sand, we've spent time going round local arenas trying to figure out what we want/like, but I think we just need to make a decision...

 

[FfionWinnie]

Please will you post pics of every stage? Like an idiots guide for my oh to follow

Very exciting!

 

[stencilface]

I'm planning on daily updates!

I'm pretty excited, we've owned the land as a family for 28 years, and have done quite a lot to do it over that time, well, stables, shelters etc, and getting electric was the biggest thing we've put in so far, but this is going to be great! I'm going to be able to do hrosey stuff whilst mini SF fills water buckets (or whatever takes her fancy!) and i might be able to back the pony, and play with the mule so that he likes me, and maybe one day I'll be able to back him too, maybe not!

Otherwise I have to walk them to another arena, and with the youngsters and by myself across a busy road, I'm not keen.

 

[FfionWinnie]

It's just what you need . I don't have much grazing so it's a thought to lose some but at the same time would be so good to have!

 

[Gift Horse]

Wow it's really taking shape - I was wondering if you had made a start.
We dug ours out two weeks ago (we being my sisters OH who is a ground worker!)

 

[Tronk]

Ok here goes - my first attempt at posting photos so bear with me!! Below is a sort of step by step:
http://onlinetransportcompliancetraining.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/451.jpg
First scraping off to level.
http://onlinetransportcompliancetraining.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/458.jpg
You can see a little better here the drop off of the existing area.
http://onlinetransportcompliancetraining.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/476.jpg
The beginnings of drainage and first membrane. We wrapped all drainage pipes in membrane too.
http://onlinetransportcompliancetraining.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/600.jpg
600T of stone, one fence and the beginning of the second membrane later!! This photo was taken this morning when first load of sand tipped.

 

[JennBags]

Ok here goes - my first attempt at posting photos so bear with me!! Below is a sort of step by step:

First scraping off to level.

You can see a little better here the drop off of the existing area.

The beginnings of drainage and first membrane. We wrapped all drainage pipes in membrane too.

600T of stone, one fence and the beginning of the second membrane later!! This photo was taken this morning when first load of sand tipped.

Hope you don't mind, I fixed your links (you need IMG not URL codes)

I have serious own-build arena envy - was just told I wasn't successful in my bid to buy some land with a school and stables in mind.

 

[Tronk]

Thanks Jen - I was in the post trying to fix them and I took too long! wouldn't let me edit!

That's pants re your land - hopefully you'll have more luck in the future. I've waited 5 long years for this - I have to keep pinching myself that it's really happening!! Blinking horse is lame though, as sod's law would have it. OH says we've got to play beach volleyball though as it has to be used everyday!!

 

[stencilface]

Tronk - can't see your pics will have to look tomorrow at work.

Here's the end of day two for us, around 400 tonnes of topsoil moved, and the start of the batter slopes, should hopefully be all level with drains by the end of the week

Down across the big slope at the top edge

Across the arena area, with huge bund of topsoil at the bottom, might end up using two loads worth of it on our garden at home following building work, it's all go here!!

 

[JennBags]

Wow so exciting for you both.

Tronk, that's rotten luck having a lame horse :mad3: but beach volleyball sounds fun :lol:

 

[Fiona]

That's great news you have started..

We have a digger on site too today to start our all weather turnout, we can swap experiences lol..

Our manege has very coarse sand on it, soon to be topped with a carpet fibre type stabiliser..

Fiona

 

[stencilface]

So, this is the status going into next week, we have the digger driver on site from Tuesday. Tuesday is drain laying day with yours truly and a farmer's son as skivvies for the day. Putting membrane in to line the drains, then drainage pipe, then filled with stone. Then the short posts and kickboards. Then the first membrane. Then it's coarse stone laying then the top membrane which will be glued. Hopefully by Friday we will be ready for the silica sand top layer. We just need to decide on the fibre mix to go on. Flexiride? Combi ride? Or turf something or other (looks like felt). We might be doing that bit ourselves the week after. Then it's fencing and we're there. Again, fencing can wait.

So here's a picture of it, drains cut into slope to deal with the springs that pop up everywhere (they will be filled with stone andeft open), and it's topsoiled ready for seeding.

 

[stencilface]

End of week two. Spent the weekend banging in posts, putting on the boards and today rolling outhe and gluing together the top membrane, phew, I'm pooped!

End of week one with half the stone down and the central drain cut.

Start of the weekend

After today, membrane at the end isn't stuck to allow the digger access, 5 loads of sand arriving tomorrow that will be piled on it. The membrane at the sides is stapled onto the boards then held in place between double boards, so hopefully it will last!

Only got the digger for one more day, so hoping we can get as much as possible done tomorrow, I'll be taking the day off to help do the rest of the membrane and posts. Think I might break, need a soak in the bath tonight!