Cost of resurfacing an arena?

[tobiano1984]

I'm enjoying rent negotiations with my landlord and one of the things that came up was the state of our arena. It's 25x50m, post and rail fenced, kickboards need repairing in places but essentially the fence is there!

Currently it isn't lined/doesn't have a membrane which is great as we're the only school in the area that doesn't flood, but bad because the stony drainage layer is now coming to the surface. The surface is currently normal sand (i.e. beach sand not fancy stuff) and fibre (carpet). And a lot of stones.

What would the good folk of HHO recommend? If I say it's going to cost £20k to resurface I will quite rightly be laughed at, but if it's only a few £k then there is the scope to work this around a rent increase. The current surface isn't terrible but in summer it gets dusty and deep, and the stones are becoming a problem.

What's the minimum one could do to improve it? We have access to diggers/machinery so could do most of it ourselves. It's obviously already level and fenced.

Any ideas on cost of a new surface and what would be involved would be much appreciated!!

 

[epeters91]

We are having to re-surface our menage after floods took it all away a few years ago. I had no horse at home but now my youngster is home we need to get it sorted. He's looking at £4500 for silica sand we've had membrance sorted out so we would then be looking at another couple of grand for a surface to go on top to help with drainage. this is for a 40 x 60 and sorry it's only rough figures but hope it helps no idea of work involved sorry!

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I think that the surface will have to be removed and the stones removed with a grading/stone removing machine., The base then has to be laid properly with a stone of an appropriate size. The stone layer has to be rolled and then a membrane if that is going to be used.
I think is is a specialist job as there are so many ifs and buts.
I can't see it being cheap. And I am not convinced that beach sand is any good. Again you need to re assess the whole surface. Sorry this is not the answer to the question, you could just get a quote for a new surface and add on the costs of membrane and the cost of half the stone used normally..
Your beach sand might be good as a sandpit for horses to roll in after work,. or as a soil conditioner.
I think the fact it does not flood is related to the base / drainage, not the absence of a membrane.