MissMincePie&Brandy
Well-Known Member
What likely damage could be caused to a horse by schooling on a dilapidated arena surface such as this: I would be interested to hear thoughts:
It's sand, but not silica sand as it freezes solid at the mention of a light frost, and in dry weather the fly-away sand is unstable, deep and dusty. The stones from the crushed tarmac base have largely risen to the surface (this is more apparent in dry weather). At one end of the arena the sand is very shallow and is only about 2 or 3 inches from the hardcore base. At the other end, the sand is about a foot deep.
In dry weather and frosty weather it is not suitable to use, but after rain (as long as not too much rain because a lake develops) the stability of the sand improves, and when harrowed after rain the surface seems reasonable, and is better in the deep end.
I am concerned because I have only used it during periods of rain, when I believed it was safe to do so, but my horse hasn't felt 100% right for a while, although it was nothing I could pinpoint and it was very subtle, but it's now developed into definite unsoundness (even though the uneducated eye would still not be able to spot it). Several other horses who have been at the yard for longer than mine have regular on/off bouts of undiagnosed unsoundness, and I'm worried schooling on this surface could be the cause. (My horse is undergoing vet tests, but I think this could become a bit long winded, as they're not sure yet and he trots up level and straight)
It's sand, but not silica sand as it freezes solid at the mention of a light frost, and in dry weather the fly-away sand is unstable, deep and dusty. The stones from the crushed tarmac base have largely risen to the surface (this is more apparent in dry weather). At one end of the arena the sand is very shallow and is only about 2 or 3 inches from the hardcore base. At the other end, the sand is about a foot deep.
In dry weather and frosty weather it is not suitable to use, but after rain (as long as not too much rain because a lake develops) the stability of the sand improves, and when harrowed after rain the surface seems reasonable, and is better in the deep end.
I am concerned because I have only used it during periods of rain, when I believed it was safe to do so, but my horse hasn't felt 100% right for a while, although it was nothing I could pinpoint and it was very subtle, but it's now developed into definite unsoundness (even though the uneducated eye would still not be able to spot it). Several other horses who have been at the yard for longer than mine have regular on/off bouts of undiagnosed unsoundness, and I'm worried schooling on this surface could be the cause. (My horse is undergoing vet tests, but I think this could become a bit long winded, as they're not sure yet and he trots up level and straight)
