How deep is too deep in an arena topped with chips of rubber and sand underneath?

[Fifty Bales of Hay]

Our arena is a very good quality silica sand, topped with rubber chips, no wires no thread. And it has worked well for many years.

But a few years ago I had it topped up with rubber chips and they sent me more than I ideally wanted (something about the cost of the haulage and it was better to buy a bigger load?). So in they all went and the arena specialist spread them and said how good the sand was underneath, and generally it was amazing condition for it's age.

I've not used the arena for about 5 years and notice now that in areas, mainly the corners, but also other places the rubber is quite deep, about 4" to 5" in places. But other places you can see the sand coming through and not even an inch of covering of rubber chips.

Is this problematic now to ride on it uneven like this? Does it just need a good drag around with the leveller, or will I have to get in there with a spade to distribute it more evenly. Or should I call in the arena specialist team again for the day?

Perhaps we have too much rubber in there and should take some away? Its not like riding in deep sand, but when I walk around it I can feel the heavier rubber dragging a bit.

Whats the easiest way to deal with this if I need to, or should I just ride on it and it will be fine?

 

[Red-1]

What maintenance do you do? I fond that they do need maintaining to stop migration of the surface.

I would not use one that is very uneven as I believe suspensories are more at risk when the surface is unpredictable.

 

[Fifty Bales of Hay]

I've got a keep a level grader which is dragged around by the 4x4 but not sure if this is the best? Its what we were sold years ago when it was installed but perhaps there are better ones around these days? As it's so lightly used, if at all, then it's not done as often as when it was used more. So maybe a good few sessions with the leveller and it will be better? Or if not then I'd need to call the big boys in with their machines again? I don't want the sand disturbed as this is good underneath, it's just the rubber that's a problem as far as I can see.

 

[sport horse]

We find with ours sthat the rubber comes to the surface after a prolonged wet period. Have you somene local who could power harrow it and then use it and see how it goes?

 

[Tiddlypom]

A decent arena leveller should level the rubber if it’s only the rubber layer that is uneven. If the base layer sand is now undulating too, then the whole arena needs regrading, which is a professional job but one that is not uncommon as part of routine maintenance.

My arena has 5” of sand under 2” of rubber chips.

 

[Fifty Bales of Hay]

This is my leveller is this one good enough do you think Tiddlypom? What’s yours like please to compare?

 

[Fifty Bales of Hay]

We find with ours sthat the rubber comes to the surface after a prolonged wet period. Have you somene local who could power harrow it and then use it and see how it goes?

This might be the reason why - in that the rubber that had sunk into the sand, when it was being used loads, has now resurfaced. As I added more rubber with topping it up, then stopped using the arena. We’ve had a lot of rain over the last 5 years.

 

[irishdraft]

I have the same, my arena is about 20 years old, lightly used & never been topped up . The rubber does migrate & I have patches where it's thin, I level it when it's been dry for a while as it all fluffs up better then but I use it once a week or so and never had a problem riding on it although I only manage about 40 mins schooling at a time x

 

[Tiddlypom]

View attachment 127306
This is my leveller is this one good enough do you think Tiddlypom? What’s yours like please to compare?

I’ve got an Arenamate, which looks fairly similar to yours except that it has a levelling blade at the back instead of a pole.

I can only suggest that you make multiple passes with your leveller, both lengthways and widthways, and see whether that levels your surface or not.

 

[marmalade76]

We find with ours sthat the rubber comes to the surface after a prolonged wet period. Have you somene local who could power harrow it and then use it and see how it goes?

I can only harrow mine after heavy rain otherwise the harrows pick up the rubber bits and then dumps it in patches. For some reason it harrows nicely when it's well wet. It also gets deep after prolonged dry periods so we can't use it or harrow it.