Improving Woodchip Surface

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sillygillyhorse

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Has anyone managed this and if so how?

Current surface on my rented yard is Woodchip, it has been down several years now and was very well topped up 2 years ago and is regularly levelled. On the whole it is not too bad but I would prefer something more supportive and less slippery. The real base of it is well broken down and quite peat like, it seems to me like it needs something to bind it together a bit more.

Any clues or do I just live with it?
 
I had a woodchip type surface on my arena, it was quite big chunks and it lasted about 4-5 years before starting to break down into compost. At the beginning it was fantastic: non slippy, never froze, levelled itself.

As it deteriorated I worked with it for a while, including adding more woodfibre, but it just got worse and deeper over time. At the end it was only really rideable when the weather was dry, when tbh you could ride in the fields if need be, so kind of defeated the purpose of the arena.

Bit the bullet and replaced it last year :(
 
I had rubber chip added to mine, before I realised it ws going to ride deep when it got wet because of the decaying wood products underneath. So getting rid isn't really an option - I am just hoping the wood will rot to next to nothing over time (and with all the wet we are having) and the problem will resolve itself. Meanwhile I just harrow it as much as I can. It rides okay when it is dry *sigh* which it hasn't been a lot over the past year!
 
Honestly? No. :( I grew up in a part of the world where wood chip was cheap and plentiful so have lots of experience and it pretty much echoes about. Great initially, but once the surface starts to break down there isn't much that helps.

I have added wood to a sand base successfully but only in small proportions.
 
Thank you, your answers are pretty much what I expected tbh. Digging it up and starting again will not be an option as cannot see landlord financing it and I don't want to pay for a surface on someone else's property.
 
I have been doing some research as also have a wood fibre surface, it's been down 7 years now) and not had a top up rides great when wet, can be a bit slippy when very dry. It has only had use by myself (2 horses) hence probably not broken downas quick as others. Anyway I've heard of a couple of people adding carpet fibre with success, one company I came across was Equistride http://www.aspfase.co.uk/html/equistride.html , they have given me some contacts of people close ish on who have used their product on wood fibre surfaces, as I would like to see it for myself before purchasing. There are a number of other companies selling similar type products.
 
I improved mine by taking it up and putting in a Fibresand/rubber surface.

Like others have said, the woodfibre was great initially but broke down very quickly. Although it was ok for flat work, towards the end I couldn't really jump on it.
 
I have just added shredded carpet fibre (not to a wood chip surface) and am really pleased with it - i rent my yard so didnt want to spend a lot either but managed to get enough for a 40x20 for £650 plus delivery - have since seen an ad in the 'Farmers Guardian' mag for free carpet fibre (haulage costs only) typical!!

It's def an economical solution and has transformed my tired old manège into a fab springy surface that doesn't freeze, doesn't get deep, doesn't collect puddles and hasn't yet needed any levelling :))))
 
I am awaiting delivery of a serious amount of carpet fibre in the next couple of weeks, subject the existing surface drying out enough to harrow and roll. The man who came to look said it will be a huge improvement, doesn't move once you have spread it and rolled it, not even to migrate to the sides. If you message me I'll give you contact details, they seem to cover the whole country.
 
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