How can you stop an arena freezing?

[kit279]

Our arena is frozen at the moment. It is sand and rubber (tiny bits of what looks like electric wire covering chopped up). It's a good surface but I'd like to do something to stop it freezing.

So do I need to put extra rubber on the top?

Or can I do something a bit outlandish and mix in a load of rock salt? I ask because it would stop it freezing (like when the roads are gritted) but don't know whether it would affect the surface itself? Would it damage the rubber at all? Has anyone else done this?

 

[revilo]

I'm afraid that I do not have an answer to your question.

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At my local stables we recently had our school revamped/resurfaced and had the same stuff that the horseguards/Queen use in their schools which I believe is a sand and wool fibre mixture, this froze as well.

I think with the kind of weather we have been having I'm afraid the school is likely to get frozen.

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Good luck with getting an answer though

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[spike123]

I'm not sure but wouldn't salt in the surface affect your horses feet? I seem to recall being told that if you use the wrong sand with too much salt in then it can damage the horses feet.

 

[hollyandivy123]

its drainage, if there is water there then it will freeze what ever the surface, if it drains well it will freeze less

 

[L&M]

Re above post - our arena has very good drainage and never floods, but still freezes!
No solution that I know off, other than roll on spring!!