New menage.... deep going??

[rowy]

Hi, we have just had a menage put in and had my first ride in it today and it was so so deep! We have silica sand with a layer of flexiride on top. its not the flexiride that is deep, in fact the areas where the flexiride is slightly deeper they just go over the top of it.

So will it improve when it rains? i have stopped riding on it as horses really arent coping well as in some places their feet sink in all the way to the fetlock.

 

[EQUISCENE]

How long was the silica sand down and did you roll/compress it before putting the flexiride on top?

 

[much-jittering]

Were you given any instructions? We've just had our existing menage resurfaced, and it needed 4 inches of water on the sand layer before the rubber went on (no problem there as it piddled it down the whole time they were doing it), and then once it was all down it wasn't allowed to be ridden on for a week so it could settle.

I'd be phoning the company who put it in to ask their advice, assuming they do arenas for a living. If you get no joy, or they don't, then grade it/harrow it/whatever you're doing to maintain it and then try again. Going fetlock deep is unacceptable to me though, so I would be chasing the company first!

 

[much-jittering]

Equiscene got in while I was typing lol to say exactly what I was saying!

Previously to this one where it needed water only, when dealing with new surfaces with something over the top of a sand base, on a big commercial yard that couldn't cope without the school, we rode on and harrowed the sand for a fortnight and then had the top layer put on.

 

[rowy]

Thanks for the replies. The sand came from a different person to the flexiride surface and the guy who put it in was a different person again who doesnt specialise in menages, hes like a builder (who has done a lot of work for us and who we trust) did it.
So now its down, would it be worth watering it? as cant see a way to get the flexiride back off of it?
The sand was only down 1-2 days and wasnt rolled or compressed before the flexiride was put on top.

 

[much-jittering]

Lawks, maybe do try watering then - I can't think of anything else short of getting the flexirider scraped to one end, and the sand at the other end rolled, and then vice versa and respreading the flexiride. May be worth considering your options before you do too much else that's going to mix the two together. Do flexiride themselves have a helpline that might give you some advice? I know the problem isn't with their product, but they must regularly supply people who don't have their areans professionally put in.

Sorry to sound a bit negative - BUT the reason we've just had ours resurfaced is due to non arena professionals doing botchy maintainance work on an initially well installed school, and I'm a bit jumpy about it after falling on the concrete like surface we had towards the end

 

[samhorse]

Our menage went down about 8 weeks ago and is only now riding nicley. We have silica sand and rubber. It took a huge amount of rainfall before it started to ride well, along with regular levelling. I am sure with water and levelling it'll come right for you. Good luck!

 

[katieq]

This is for the lady who had just had her Flexiride laid on to her sand.
I have a Flexiride topping on a sand base which works very well and we are really pleased with it.
However, my friend is an arena grounds person and I have asked him about what you have said about your sand not being rolled, watered and compacted.
If your sand base is not totally level, watered, rolled and therefore compact, whatever topping you have is not going to be level either as the underneath is not correct and it will ride loose and deep. You may be best to scrape back the Flexiride, water, roll and compact your sand so it is firm, let it settle then put the topping back on. He also said you need to check you have the correct grade of sand. Hope this helps.

 

[Mainland]

The sand must be rolled when damp using a vibrating roller. The sand should be rolled a few times first without vibration to prevent the roller from burying itself. It is absolutely critical that the sand is compacted before adding any topping. The only thing you can do is try and scrape the Flex-Ride back and compact the sand. All is not lost though as the sand will settle on its own but it will take much longer.