Harrowing

[Kyra grace]

Please can you advise when hiring out an indoor arena for jumping, how often should you harrow it.

 

[HashRouge]

It would depend a bit on how large the arena is, how many people are using it in the session, how good the surface is and how many jumps are up/ how big they are. Basically, I'd be looking at the condition of the surface after use and going from there. When I worked as an SJ groom we used to try and harrow the outdoor at the end of each day, so that would be after 10-12 big warmbloods had all been worked and many of them jumped. It would usually do another day if we didn't have time to harrow it though, but it was a very big arena. Our indoor didn't get used as often (only if the weather was bad) but it was also smaller, so if they'd been jumping in there it would need doing definitely at the end of each day.
I love harrowing arenas, so any excuse to hook up the quad and harrow and I'd be doing it!

 

[Kyra grace]

if the surface held water, how often should it be harrowed when being hired out for jumping.

 

[ycbm]

if the surface held water, how often should it be harrowed when being hired out for jumping.

As often as it needs it. Different arenas have different requirements.

It's a strange first question on joining the forum. Welcome, by the way

Are you the owner of an arena wanting to hire it out or a user annoyed that the arena you're hiring isn't being harrowed?
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[CanteringCarrot]

Strange first question? Hardly.

This is quite a reasonable question some might come to. Maybe they're hiring out a school, maybe they're hiring one and what to check all their boxes. Or just see on average what is the "norm" or accepted practice. Sure, it does vary based on the actual footing and what's going on/traffic on the footing. But at least this isn't about men's riding apparel again ?

So my answer is it depends. We'd need more details about the footing and traffic.


*questions about mens riding apparel is fine. I am referring to the odd threads that have an odd motive behind them, now those are strange.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Our 2 big hire local arenas harrow at the end of every day. Occasionally at lunch too if big amounts have been jumping during the morning.

 

[ycbm]

So my answer is it depends. We'd need more details about the footing and traffic.

That's why I called it strange, it's impossible to answer without more information.
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[Kyra grace]

An arena not being harrowed everyday that is hired out for jumping so in my opinion jeopardising the safety of the riders as the surface is very heavy.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

That's why I called it strange, it's impossible to answer without more information.
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Ahhh, ok.

I am somewhat used to this in my line of work and even then, when I know the details, the answer is still usually "it depends" ?

Plus I've read many other odd first posts on forums over the years.

 

[ycbm]

An arena not being harrowed everyday that is hired out for jumping so in my opinion jeopardising the safety of the riders as the surface is very heavy.

Have you spoken to the owners? People need to vote with their horses' feet and not rebook. If they book a second time they are accepting the risk.
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[CanteringCarrot]

An arena not being harrowed everyday that is hired out for jumping so in my opinion jeopardising the safety of the riders as the surface is very heavy.

Have you spoken to the yard/individual that is hiring it out? They might not be so aware, or just not think about it.

 

[Kyra grace]

I have spoken to them and they feel harrowing the surface 4 times a week is enough.

 

[ycbm]

I have spoken to them and they feel harrowing the surface 4 times a week is enough.

Then it's your choice whether to hire it or not. I don't think you can force them to harrow it more often.

If use of it was provided in your livery, then I think you might have more grounds for asking for a safer surface, but if you are hiring by the hour then your only option is to stop hiring it.
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[PinkvSantaboots]

There isn't much you can do really it's there arena you can't make them Harrow it more, just look for somewhere else.

All our surfaces were done every day but that because the yo was totally obsessed, if your horse did a pile you had to get off immediately and pick it up, unfortunately some people have no happy medium in these situations!