Arena Maintenance and silica sand test

[F for Fidget]

Hi,

We had a new arena put in end of last summer. Supposedly silica sand from Kings Lynn quarry that we mixed in Andrew Bowens Stability Fibres. It was done by a local contractor who has done a few arenas near us.

It rode extremely deep in the beginning, possibly as we had such a dry summer and has settled in now better during the winter. Ours is only getting light personal use. It becomes fairly deep and uneven if we lunge on it so feel we need to harrow / level it and then roll it do compact the surface on a weekly basis. I currently use a old fashioned Cambridge grass roller to compact it.
Got our neighbours to come over with their harrower occasionally to mix it all otherwise just drag pallets to level it. Will buy our own harrower as soon as we can afford it but main problem now mainly seems that it become to deep in places rather than to hard.

How often and what do you need to use to maintain your arenas? Did it take a long time to settle in and did you roll it more in the beginning?

Think I will give it some time to settle in but I'm a bit worried it's not the right sand and wondered if anyone can recommend where to get this tested?

Interested to hear how much work others spend on their arenas, any advice much appreciated.

 

[blitznbobs]

Is it waxed? If it is unwaxed it will require a lot of maintenance and preferably grading after every ride … thats why so many people add wax it is much easier to keep well. Also it will require to be kept wet at all times so if it dries out the fibres will float to the top

 

[F for Fidget]

Thanks @blitznbobs no its not waxed. Is this a wax you can add to the sand and fibre or a waxed fibre your need buy? Forgot to say its an outside arena btw.
From memory the waxed surface options were a lot more expensive. Guess you get what you pay for... Mainly trying to figure out what is normal for silica sand with carpet fibre surface.

 

[blitznbobs]

The sand is waxed before it is laid but wax can be added afterwards (tends not to be as successful) - an unwaxed surface does require a lot of maintenance but is a better surface for horses legs and movement if well maintained. An unwaxed surface is often laid as a cheaper option but it is superior if you put the work in - but yes it will need properly harrowing really regularly (like daily - we often do ours twice a day) or it will become deep very quickly especially if too dry. Ours requires watering morning and evening in the summer so It is not actually the cheap option it might seem at first glance