Cold weather and riding surface?

[Jingleballs]

My yard has an outdoor all weather arena - I think the surface is some kind of fine wood grain - looks like sand but it isn't.

It is very cold here today and I took my boy into the arena tonight to lunge him and noticed that the surface had started to freeze over - it wasn't hard , more crispy and it softened the ore he walked on it.

I only did a little walk and trot and then moved to the indoor as I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to work him on that surface.

Can anyone advise whethe or not it is ok to work a horse on this type of surface when it is a bit colder?

 

[somethingorother]

I'm not sure about wood grain... in the rubber/ sand arena we just used to plod round the track til it broke up, didnt take long, then take it easy. I once made the mistake of lunging on the sand arena in heavy frost/snow (slowly) anyways, after about 5 laps in walk horse had frozen stilts, i had to pick them out for aaaaaaaages to get rid- so be careful, i certainly wont be doin it again!

 

[mintaka04]

We've got a sand and rubber mix arena and I ride in it as long as it's not frozen too deep. If it's only got a crust of ice on it then it's fine after a few circuits.
You will know as soon as you step on it how solid it is.