arena surfaces

_daisy_

_daisy_

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Im looking into arena surfaces and wondered if anyone had any info on the following surfaces. Does anyone have these on their arena? if so what do you think? ive discounted all the wood chip surfaces so looking at these so far:
http://www.softracksurfaces.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=28
http://www.softracksurfaces.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=27
http://www.equestriansurfaces.co.uk/our_surfaces/surface_details.php?id=13
http://www.equestriansurfaces.co.uk/our_surfaces/surface_details.php?id=16
 
They all look lovely TBH!!! Hope you have a big budget
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We have softrack equisand with rubber on the top. It was put down last summer and so far we have not had a single puddle and it has never frozen. Our school is very well drained anyway but the surface seems to be standing up well to everyday use (usually 6 horses a day lungeing or schooling).

How many horses will you have using it? I think the fibremix surface is more hardwearing and it is a really lovely surface to ride on as there is less movement.
 
itll probably be used for 3 horses per day for lunging, schooling & jumping.
would you mind me asking how much it cost you for the softrack equisand, and how big your arena is?
 
I got a quote from ED and it was £50,000 JUST for the surface
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but my arena is 60 x 40. I went for silica sand and rubber (if it ever flipping arrives- supposed to be here this morning!). I've got it on the horse walker and it is fantastic!

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If it is only for 3 horses per day I would say that you don't need to go to the expense of having the fibremix one.

I'm not sure how much the surface cost as we had a lot of other things done at the same time. We used Mark Scott arenas and they were very good.
 
omg £50k thats certaily out of our budget. were looking at a 50x25, im waiting for info/pricing from them. were hoping to source the materials ourselves to make it cheaper - just hope we can.
 
We had a 50x20m built and went for best quality silica sand with Star Trak rubber chunks - it's brilliant, never puddles, rides well and so much nicer than just sand or flat rubber pieces

Edit to say - build was 18k nearly 2 years ago - rubber was about £65 per tonne + VAT + delivery then, can't remember what sand was - OH will remember and know weights
 
ill go have a look and see if Mark Scott has a website.
maybe we should look at the economy surfaces then? see i dont want to scrimp on the surface now only to find out in a few years time that it has to have a huge overall and cost me more in the long run if you understand what im saying?
 
That is exactly what I was going to say hun... I would always spend as much as I could on the surface, that way it will last you a good couple of years and you don't feel you need to replace it.
 
id prefer to spend more at the beginning on the surface then end up having to rip it up after a few years and have to replace it all. thats why the woodchip idea has gone out of the window
 
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id prefer to spend more at the beginning on the surface then end up having to rip it up after a few years and have to replace it all. thats why the woodchip idea has gone out of the window

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I agree, our surface is great and certainly wasn't one of the cheapest out there. What I meant was that I understood that the fibremix was suitable for high traffic schools such as competition yards and livery yards etc so may not be necessary if you only have 3 horses. It is more expensive but is a very nice surface.
 
thanks riviera, i hope i didntg come across as rude as that was not my intention. im going to get some prices and samples of their surfaces so hopefully well be able to make a decision
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No don't worry Daisy, no offence taken, I just thought I should clarify what I was trying to get at about the fibremix!

Be careful with the sand if you decide to go down the sand and rubber route, ours is great and doesn't get deep or waterlogged but some of the finer stuff isn't so hardwearing and you can end up replacing it sooner. Like I said we used Mark Scott Arenas and he supplied samples of that particular sand so I'm sure other suppliers will too.

Good luck with it all.
 
thanks ever so much for all your advise, really want to get it 110& right first time, dont want to end up regretting the decision we make and having to live with a wet arena to ride in, especially with the lovely yorkshire rain we get
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That's how I felt when we did ours as we had an existing 20x40m school that I wanted to extend, the surface was old but never had puddles etc so I was worried about how the new one would fare. The previous owners couldn't remember who had done the school so we just had to do our research and then hope for the best!

Our school has been operational since last spring and so far has done well in the heat, rain and frost. I was worried that you would notice the difference when riding from the old part of the school to the new part but this hasn't been the case as they refurbished the old bit too.

I hope it all goes well and you get it done without getting too stressed!
 
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