Arena help please

[Madone]

Have a small DIY yard and inherited an arena with it that initially had builders sand. Managed to come by a proper surface that from a well known Equestrian Centre that had been updated. The surface had sat around for a while but wasnt mixed with anything else. New surface was rubber and sand.

So replaced the surface in Aug 2019,obviously had very wet winter and the arena was constantly too wet and boggy to ride in. Pulled the surface up and added more drainage early 2020 and checked the previously installed drains which were working.

Rode really well all summer.

Now we have the same problem again of it being too wet and inconsistant in places. Had someone look at it who said it's holding too much moisture and not much we can do. Would a rubber top up help?

What maintenance routine would you be using?
I've only a 4x4 to pull a harrow or roller and last time I used it when it was wet I left deep ruts.

 

[Red-1]

When we moved here, the original arena was 15 X 30. I enlarged it into the garden to 30 x 30. The new half always drains, even 20 years on it is consistent. The old half was builders sand, it had a top up of equestrian sand, then rubber. The rubber did improve it, but there would still be some puddles.

This summer, with lockdown, I did a cheap and cheerful top up of carpet pieces. It has improved it again, it is fine for turnout and schooling for me, but TBH still feels different and soggy on the old side.

Once the drainage has blocked, nothing bu digging the drains and using fresh hard core will really improve it, sadly. My arena is great for me, but if I was going to do anything but a 2K job (cost of cheap top up this year) I would be spending more and digging the drains.

But, the extra rubber did improve it somewhat. As did the carpet.

 

[brighteyes]

It's the drains.

 

[minesadouble]

Had the surface been well used before you got it?
I was told that after years of used the sand becomes ground down by the horses and is then too fine to serve its purpose and is more likely to be prone to flooding and freezing.