Best Arena Surface??

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Forget_Me_Not

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With showjumping in mind??

Most likely for 20x40 menage used by say 5 horses.
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What surfaces do you love and hate?
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Sand and rubber would probably be the best option. The wax surfaces are fantastic but so expensive. Sand and rubber is a good bouncy surface to jump on but needs regular harrowing round the jumps.
 
We've got sand and rubber mix at home, but I prefer the gel track type surfaces which tend to ride a bit more firmly and the horses only sink in about an inch.
 
In terms of cost and value for money, sand and rubber. Ours has been down for about 13 years (we inherited it) and can always ride in it come whatever weather (rain or freezing).

You do just need to ensure you level it regularly. Chopped rubber pieces are what we have. I have also heard that the flat strips of rubber get very slippy and are difficult to level !
 
Cushiontrack is fab!!!! I have it and its low maintenance and really springy to ride and jump on!!!! Its one of the best waxed surfaces on the market i think!!
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Mixture of sand and rubber, but bits of rubber, not the strips. Tend to be a nightmare to jump on and I've found the surface isn't as bouncy

Saying that though, if you're going to be spending the money on a decent arena surface, might be worth investing in something that allows you to harrow the arena as well. The difference it makes is worth the extra bit of cost IMHO - having always ridden on arenas that are harrowed daily, and then finding that for 2 weeks, they couldn't be - was horrible, couldn't jump at one point (that was the strip rubber, not the pieces though)
 
I would seriously avoid a rubber surface at all costs. They may ride well, but are extremely harmful to the environment, with any water run off containing extremely hazardous chemicals which then enter the water table. Additionally, once the surface has come to the end of its life, like all surfaces do, it will be impossible to dispose of since new leglislation was brought in in 2006 (i think) meaning it cannot be burned or taken to a landfill. You will then be stuck with a useless surface and no means of disposing of it. Finally, they are really awful to ride on in summer, becoming extremely hot and smelly (hot rubber). I always find them smelly from on top of the horse, so imagine how the horse must feel. There are plenty of more environmentally friendly surfaces to choose from, and when I was researching ours, chose a surface from Ransfords (they have a website). It is entirely natural and reasonably priced. Perhaps it may not ride quite as well as other synthetic surfaces, bit I had peace of mind knowing it is entirely natural.
 
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