Grass arena

[LBird]

I'm thinking of having a grass arena but have no experience of either riding on or looking after one. It would be a properly created surface with drainage and a sand and fibre mix combined with the top soil and hardwearing grass.

I'd be interested in any experiences anyone has of riding on and/or looking after a grass arena. Is it a facility you'd pay to hire if it were available?

TIA for your replies.

 

[Equi]

I can’t imagine it working. If you want a year round arena you really need the surface down properly.

 

[ester]

We have one locally, thought put in quite a long time ago and not really looked after as such in recent years since a change in management. It is a about an acre mostly used for jumping and a lovely surface though not used in proper winter months as they have other surfaced arenas for that.

I don't exactly know what was done when it was put in, just remember the diggers!

 

[be positive]

I think it a great idea but can only see it working if it is very large so doesn't get constant use and become tracked round the edges as once the grass has gone the surface will be just the sand/ soil base, I can certainly see it being hired but not sure that will pay enough to cover the maintenance.
Personally I would just do a decent arena and have a grass area to ride on when the ground allows.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I'm thinking of having a grass arena but have no experience of either riding on or looking after one. It would be a properly created surface with drainage and a sand and fibre mix combined with the top soil and hardwearing grass.

I'd be interested in any experiences anyone has of riding on and/or looking after a grass arena. Is it a facility you'd pay to hire if it were available?

TIA for your replies.

Our grass arena is now down all the time, as I have to pay for the dressage trainer to measure it out each year and because of this the grass died under the boards so when land maintenance is done we can see where the boards go back. The liveries know they cannot use it through winter when ground soft, we found the levelness part of the field to lay it as our land has kinks in it. The horses do kick the boards out of place but we used camping pegs and mallet to push them in, drainage not a problem as it is not allowed to be used when wet or slippery. We do advertise it is available for hire but no takers, so doubt you would make money from it unless others in your area have no arena or need to practice on grass. Also horse kick over the letter markers

To add i gave up putting the plant pots round the corners - This is ours.

 

[LBird]

It would be 60mx30m and in addition to a surfaced arena, so only need be in use when conditions are right. Interesting that no-one has been interested in hiring yours ILuvCowparsley - it looks great. You'd think that with comps being held on grass that people might like to practice on grass. That might make me think again.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Very helpful.

 

[ester]

From a hire point of view, with a full set of show jumps out the one I know of would be hired out occasionally, but in recent years has mostly been used as an additional ring when a whole centre event is taking place, usually showing/they put the workers out there.