How often should a sand school be levelled?

[Neddie123]

School is pure sand, no apparent membrane or if there is, the sand is pretty deep so never seen it.

Been at yard for 6 months and so far it has never been levelled/harrowed.

Yard manager has no tractor/quad/mower so I don't expect it levelled every week but this seems a bit infrequent! School used for lessons/schooling regularly and also turnout for total of 8 horses when paddocks are too wet to turnout.

How often do people think a school (should given above info) should be levelled? I'm starting to worry my horse may become injured due to uneven surface.

 

[milliepops]

I don't think you can specify a set interval because it depends on the surface, amount of use and so on. But if a track has appeared, the surface is uneven or the corners have mounds in them then I'd expect the edges to be dragged in and the rest levelled.

I used to do my own weekly, it was only me using it so that was fine.
Current yard is high traffic and its done a few times a week.
Last place.... never.... I dug the sides in but YO had no kit. Part of the reason for leaving!

 

[dogatemysalad]

Depends on the amount of use, but ours is done weekly. Equestrian centres where I train, do it daily.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Daily on a big busy yard weekly on smaller yards, turning horses out on the surface can really ruin it as loose horses often charge about and dig it up it doesn't sound like the best set up to be honest.

 

[Leandy]

Good professional yards with continuing use of the school will do it daily. Otherwise, I'd say sufficiently often that you do not get a track forming round the outside (you need to pull the outside back into the track if that is happening as well as harrowing) and you don't have weeds in the corners and to ensure the surface is level and well draining. Different surfaces behave differently so it depends how much it moves about.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have four horses three ridden and I level school every day it’s used .
no wonder there are so many lame horses .

 

[Jayzee]

I'm with goldstar - I try and harrow before its used that may be every day or every couple of days

 

[Winters100]

Levelled twice a day where I am, sides dug back in as necessary.