Frozen Arena

[ThreeWBs]

Does anyone have any magic tricks to unfreeze a rubber/fibre/sand arena?

It usually holds up well, but we're now on day 5 of negative temperatures (no snow!) and it's rock solid.

 

[RHM]

Ours is the same, following this in the hope that someone has a miracle cure!

 

[Birker2020]

My partner who used to work at an Equestrian Competition Centre said you can put salt on it, but then the surface will never dry out. Once its on that's it, it's in which is why it was never added to the outdoor surface where he worked.

 

[quizzie]

Unfortunately only very good drainage so no water sitting in the surface (difficult this winter!!)
...and more rubber!

 

[Goldenstar]

Mine rarely freezes but if you get very wet weather changing quickly to cold even the most forgiving surface will freeze . Making sure it’s always levelled will help I do mine after each use in winter .

 

[Tiddlypom]

Level the arena before the first forecast frost, then level it again every day after the last horse has worked.

My various slightly wonky neds are currently only worked in hand, so I leave the SORNed 4x4 hooked up to the leveller in the corner of the arena ready for use. It was -5c here last night, the arena was fairly firm this morning but perfectly useable.

 

[AnShanDan]

No magic tricks but when our sand /fibre surface actually does freeze we use a tractor and power harrow. Our arena is under about 10 inches of snow atm tho

 

[doodle]

I think once it’s frozen for 5 days it’s too late. Before that lots of harrowing helps, before you leave at night and first thing in the morning can help break it up.

 

[sport horse]

If it is soaking wet and freezes you have no chance whatever the surface. We have sand & rubber and we worked really hard on it on Friday & Saturday with the cold snap forecast. We harrowed it every couple of hours to try to get it to dry as much as possible. It has been harrowed every monring, used by 10 horses then harrowed again in the afternoon and we have been able to work them normally ie walk, trot & canter. Today has been a degree or two above freezing but very sunny so we have harrowed it three times this afternoon and you can see how much the rubber has dried each time you turn it over again. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. -7 C forecast tonight.