ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
It needs to be flat and properly mixed before the rain though.
Fibre sand - new surface advice needed!
- Thread starter Remi'sMum
- Start date
littlemiss1
Well-Known Member
We had a experienced company do all the work including the surface, the sand was put down then the fibre on top and then mixed in with a similar rake to the Martin Colins one but from the moment it was put down it was patchy with piles of fibre and areas of just sand. I took this up with the company many times and was just told to keep raking, watering and using the arena and with time it will settle. This has never been the case and we are now looking to take things further and have the surface re done. its just so frustrating because after years of riding in a muddy field it was so exciting to get a proper arena which now is more useless than useful.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
One night's heavy rain is unlikely to be enough. I was told our new arena needed a minmum of 4" of water (on 5" on sand + 2" of rubber on top) before riding on it. 4" of rain in a day and you're in the news! The water has to permeate the whole sand layer, not just the top, so that all the sand grains knit together. If you're relying on rain, can you set up a rain gauge?
CB did bang on about this to me at length, as they've had to deal with the aftermath of impatient owners who've gone on to their new arenas too soon before, and carved them up.
OP, I hope the new arenamate gizmo helps rescue your yard's arena. They have a combined arena leveller and grass harrow, I wonder if it's that? I saw one on the back of their truck when they delivered a set of grass harrows to me. Good company to deal with.
CB did bang on about this to me at length, as they've had to deal with the aftermath of impatient owners who've gone on to their new arenas too soon before, and carved them up.
OP, I hope the new arenamate gizmo helps rescue your yard's arena. They have a combined arena leveller and grass harrow, I wonder if it's that? I saw one on the back of their truck when they delivered a set of grass harrows to me. Good company to deal with.
Peggs
Well-Known Member
Please can I be exceptionally nosey and ask what fibre people have gone for and which company supplied it, it may help with my fibre research! also what the end result looks like, ie. Is it really dark or has it stayed a nice light sandy colour?
soloequestrian
Well-Known Member
Haven't read the whole thread, but for the last poster I used sharp sand from a local quarry topped with carpet fibre from EquiCon. We spread everything ourselves. The arena is ace, rarely needs raking and rides very well. I was a bit worried that it would look like a rubbish tip before I got the carpet but it's actually very smart - even though the carpet fibres are different colours, the overall effect is just a sandy cream colour. I actually think it looks nicer than rubber topped arenas now.
ETA - it didn't need any rain on it before riding, just put the carpet down and haven't looked back.
ETA - it didn't need any rain on it before riding, just put the carpet down and haven't looked back.
Remi'sMum
Well-Known Member
Have I remembered how to post a photo??
This is ours, new but the old stuff was the same I think and the colour was very similar.
No idea where it was got from though, so not much help really!
(Freshly harrowed so looking a wee bit more serviceable - as its not being left to settle and being ridden on already, it needs looking after as best we can)
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Booboos
Well-Known Member
Looking at that photo I would say it is very dry and you are not using the right type of leveller. Your leveller is creating ridges all over the place, you want something that compacts it more evenly.
Remi'sMum
Well-Known Member
Booboos - I agree on both counts.
But with it being ridden on, the only irrigation being whatever rain we get, and at the moment it being a choice between either not harrowing or using that harrow, it's pretty much a case of trying to make the best of it! It was much worse prior to harrowing! Fingers crossed they come and demo another device and it's better!
But with it being ridden on, the only irrigation being whatever rain we get, and at the moment it being a choice between either not harrowing or using that harrow, it's pretty much a case of trying to make the best of it! It was much worse prior to harrowing! Fingers crossed they come and demo another device and it's better!