Building a Menage

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tiger

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We have just moved and we want to build a menage. I am looking for advice on which surface. It will be for private use, dressage and general schooling but I will want to lunge. I have been told lunging will do it no good and should have a lunge pen but this will add to the cost. Any advice please.
P.S. can anybody recommend somebody in the Hereford area to build it ? !!
 
Lungeing is fine as long as you don't go crazy, spread out where you lunge (not always at one end) and maintain the surface properly. I quite like the Martin Collins surface we have at work. At the yard I used to be at, we had a sand and rubber surface until it got topped with loads of rubber, which I really quite like.
 
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P.S. can anybody recommend somebody in the Hereford area to build it ? !!

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Sorry to hijack your thread but am in same happy position so will await replies with interest! Friend of mine had an arena built by Beau Bradshaw who is from Worcester area I think, she's been very pleased with it.
 
I have to say it.
'Manege'.

Unless your thread is way more exciting than I realised.
S
grin.gif
 
I found my options were limited by my budget!!!

The Martin Collins waxed surface was amazing but cost, as a surface, more than the cost of the entire manege and then some!

Sand and rubber can be a more reasonable options.
There are many different suppliers for the sand, but you need to make sure it is suitable for equestrian use - perhaps use a reputable company, go see their arenas and even ride in one if you can. The wrong sand can be extremely deep for the horses and may cause injuries. Again many people supply rubber but you want to make sure it's metal free and suitable for equestrian use.

Woodchip is the cheapest but some people find it slippery.

Anything you buy will need to be levelled regularly and possibly watered in dry weather (with the exception of the seriously expenssive professional surfaces).
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have to say it.
'Manege'.

Unless your thread is way more exciting than I realised.
S
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry about spelling. Its the stress of the move !!!
 
I built mine for almost no ££ by using scaffolding boards on grass and then tipping ash from power stations in. It needed to be rolled well - but three years later it's still great. It does need watering in summer a bit but is fine to lunge on. If I could afford it I would add some rubber to stop it freezing in winter but apart from the depths of winter when it freezes it is in all other respects great whether flatwork, lungeing or jumping.
 
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I built mine for almost no ££ by using scaffolding boards on grass and then tipping ash from power stations in.

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Can you please elaborate? People always mention these weird and wonderful materials but how do you get hold of this stuff?
 
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