Horse arena headache

L

ladymoll

New User
Joined
8 September 2015
Messages
6
Visit site
Hi guys.....we are in the middle of building our horse arena at home. The drainage and hard core layer are down and the fencing is done. I am not having a membrane put down as we have western reining horses and as is the nature of our sport a membrane will move at some point whether it is glued down or not. My problem is that I need to put something down as a blinding layer but am at a loss as to what to use. We were going for fly ash which is the usual material for reining but now you need a licence for it and we have been told we cant have it. My other 2 choices are open graded tarmac or basalt and then my sand layer on top. Does anyone have any experience of the tarmac or the basalt or can I ask what anyone else has used as a blinding layer instead of a membrane. Thanks in anticipation x
 
A friend used tarmac planing s in a school some 30 years ago. This year the school was rebuilt and to our astonishment,the planing s hadnt budged ,or silted up . That school could have standing water in bad weather but horses could always jump off it . (metre 20 stuff)Dont compact the tarmac ,thats my best tip.
 
We don't have a membrane on our arena, I think (but not 100% certain) the blinding layer was crushed/chipped limestone. Will see if I can dig out the documentation to check for you. Arena has been in two years now, rides well, drains fantastically and no stones coming up into the sand.
 
Have you spoken to Oakridge, Sterling or Wye Oak Quarter Horses to see what they used. I have heard of the open tarmac in the past, but have no idea on the actual type to use under the surface.
 
I had mine done without a surface membrane, the arena company were absolutely against them as they always come up eventually, mine was hard core, then basalt as a blinding layer, then sand then rubber. It was absolutely amazing. Never ever pooled, in fact you never saw water on it, it rode like a dream and didnt track. and even when lunging a 17.2 acrobatic baby who turned himself inside out did I cut through the basalt
 
I have a rubber, sand and basalt mix with a membrane. It's been brilliant - very low maintenance, and with all kinds of disciplines going on. One word of caution - the basalt, over time can 'solidify' - so we have tines (teeth?) on the leveller to keep it broken up. In sixteen years of constant use, not one bit of membrane has revealed itself.
 
TGM that would be a great help thank you..Rhandir yes I have spoken all three and Sterling have fly ash which you cant get anymore without a licence, oakridge have clay under their sand. I was going for fly ash as my blinding layer but when I applied for the fly ash we were turned down as we are in a farming area :( This whole thing with the blinding layer is driing me mad
 
Nigel Crowe had Cardigan sand surface when he lived in Wales .. might be an idea to ask him about it if you are thinking of having it, I have it in my arena, but I don't do reining so couldn't really advise you as to its suitability as a surface for reining
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top