Flexiride Surface

[livethedream]

Does anyone on here have experience of or have a school with a flexiride surface?

Recently moved to a yard with flexi ride surface & a few horses have had issues slipping. It rides very deep & it seems unstable. From inspection it seems that the flexiride has been put directly ontop of the top membrane so if they're cornering & get through the top layer, they lose traction on the membrane.

Am I right in thinking and through my googling there should be a layer of silica sand either underneath or ontop to allow it to bed down & add stability?

The yard owner seems adamant that it's fine & that's the way it should be but I'm not convinced.

 

[Seville]

Yes, I have it, and it's fantastic! It's designed to be a top up surface rather than a standalone surface. Mine went down over compacted sand school. The company told me standalone surfaces are too deep, and should have silica sand mixed in so could this be the problem? I put mine down myself with a barrow rake and shovel. It rides beautifully, doesn't move, the horses don't trip, minimal maintenance, just a quick rake at times. It should only be 2-3 inches deep, so it sounds like yours might be wrongly laid?

sorry just 're read yours. No it shouldn't be laid that way unless it's been mixed with silica sand. It shouldn't move. I wouldn't ride on it, that sounds dodgy.

 

[Polos Mum]

I think some time ago they advertised it for use without sand but I've seen less of that recently.

Mine is over ancient sand / electrical cable and it's rejuvenated the school beyond comprehension. I love it but it did take a while to bed in - even over sand. I think when the wind blew all the foam bits away it came into it's own!

I can see how it might be too fluffy and sinky when very deep and not bedded down - it won't be deep in a holding / tendon pulling way like deep sand bit it won't give them confidence to move properly either if they are sinking into it.

Can it be rolled? will she put some sand over the top?

 

[milliepops]

Agree wtih Polos Mum, I remember them saying it could be used by itself but I think it's better with sand, I don't think you need a huge amount to make a difference though.
Ours is mixed with sand and half the time it's a really nice surface. If YO harrows it, it goes all fluffy and unstable and takes time to squish down again. It needs rolling really to get it to knit together and then it's brilliant, have ridden on it elsewhere where they maintain with a roller and it doesn't move.

 

[livethedream]

Thank you all that's really interesting, no I don't think it's ever been rolled at all. The fact their feet could get down to the membrane & slip is what's causing us to do some research to get some evidence that somethings definitely not right. Hoping that maybe we can persuade them to put some sand down on top so that it stabilises into a nice base underneath. I think as it's been put in as a complete surface that's why it's so deep, even I find it difficult to walk on in places.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The blurb still recommends that Flexiride is ok to use on its own.
Flexiride®
Flexiride®, is the recognised all-in-one surface from Equestrian Direct. We believe it to be the most economical and versatile synthetic surface available on the market to date. Flexiride can be used on top of sand as a rubber alternative, to top up existing surfaces, or on its own – where it is most economical.

 

[livethedream]

See that makes me think we'll have no chance of getting it sorted as she'll stick to her guns that it's OK on its own, plus no extra expense for sand. I'm just concerned it's going to cause an accident with someone going over on it, it's already come close. Thank you for your help & experiences, hopefully we can get it sorted.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Can you pitch it to the YO that the membrane could be permanently damaged by the horses' feet penetrating through to it? Though she's entitled to be miffed if she was sold the surface as a standalone product and its not doing the job. I don't know how much topping up with silica sand would cost cf what the surface has already cost so far.

 

[livethedream]

Can you pitch it to the YO that the membrane could be permanently damaged by the horses' feet penetrating through to it? Though she's entitled to be miffed if she was sold the surface as a standalone product and its not doing the job. I don't know how much topping up with silica sand would cost cf what the surface has already cost so far.

That's true, we could bring that up as a valid point. We feel bad mentioning it as its obvious it's probably cost an arm & a leg already but the way it is people are apprehensive about riding in there including myself.