Really REALLY need some help RE. Arena Surfaces

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MillionDollar

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I need to decide on an arena surface in the next few weeks for a livery yard, up to 30 horses. I did want a pre-mixed surface, and waxed, only i got a quote today..............£50,000 JUST for the surface. So thats out of the window!

We're having a company we use a lot to do the ground work and drainage to cut down costs. The arena will be 60 metres x 40 metres, so about 460 tonnes (think thats right) at 5 inch depth.

I don't know what to go for now?!?! Rubber, silia sand, pvc, etc.

Also been told by this guy, who builds arenas, that he uses a new surface made of wood pallets. It is supposed to be completely different from woodchip (as in doesn't break down and is very good), anyone know about it???

So i need a surface that will be reasonably low maintenance, can be used heavily and doesn't need lots of watering, oh and doesn't freeze in the winter.
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So advice, opinions, suggestions and experiences please ASAP!

Thanks
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We've got a sort of wood mixture in our school. Not ridden on it yet as only got my new boy yesterday, but it seems quite nice. The YO did comment it's better to ride on once wet as it can get deep. Don't know what it's called though, not seen that type of surface before.

My favourite surface is rubber and sand but I think that's quite expensive.
 
I ran this kind of poll for myself when doing my manege got lots of info & help, woodchips, sand, rubber ect ect. look though the pages u may find it there (some where) When i was at badminton their was a stall there with all kinds of manege surfaces and there was 1 that took my eye and that was a fibre mix with sand, seemed very soft & bouncy.... may b have a look on google at all arena builders..
 
We are having one made currently at our yard, and they have decided upon the woodchip stuff that isn't woodchip, which seems to be the one you are describing. Apparently it rides well and doesn't rot down like woodchip does, and doesn't get deep or move. We shall see.
 
equestrian surfaces direct do a large chip PVC that is 'imitation' of rubber to look at but it isn't rubber and is much cheaper

if you put down a sand base, and then top up with a mix of the typical PVC small granules and the larger chip PVC it rides really well, grades really well and doesn't freeze

I had a charles britton arena sand and pvc and after 7 years it needed a top up - couldn't afford CB prices for that so got the surface PVC topup direct and got farmer to spread it - about half the price and it rides very well - springy but not deep
 
The woodchip one which isn't woodchip might be cushionride? I rode on one recently & it was fab & am hopefully having one installed soon. Waiting to hear re my planning app.
 
Thanks everyone lots of really helpful info!
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The guy i spoke to said this stuff is excellent, environmentally friendly (recycling) and cheap. Also he said to stay away from rubber as in a few years they're going to ban it!
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Cushion ride did mine about 5 years ago it was great at first but it has really deteriated this year and now when it rains it is a slippery deep mess. We spoke to them on the phone last year and asked them to come out and give us some advise but they didn't. We then found them at the equine event and spoke to them in front of people and they said they would come out and look but then just wrote to us to say a top up would cost x amount of pounds.
I didn't mind having a top up but I wanted them to look at some areas that had completely collapsed and tell me if a top up would work

I was really cross because after it was put down we were pleased with it and H & H were asking for people to phone in a bout their arenas and I gave them a glowing write up.

We never had a membrane as they said we didn't need one as they used plainings under our arena instead of crushed concrete as the source near us was better in the former.

My friend had a normal drainage under hers of pipes and stone and hated the wood on top of that and got rid of it straight away. So be very careful.
They did the job well and I was pleased with it for 4 years and now it is awful. If you do think of using them ask for some peoples names who can give them references and ones that have had top ups and please let me know if the top up ones have worked.
It has only been used for my own 2 horses and needs little maintainance but don't think it would be up to hard work from a lot of horses
 
Ours is a mixture of silica sand, rubber chips and Padstow sea sand.
We had built one previously for my riding school which went deep, the membrane came up etc so were very careful this time.
All I can say is ours looks and rides really well apart from in summer when it gets dusty, but all through the winter it is superb. We don't have drains but a good fall on it which is essential (you can't feel this when you ride on it) and then stone rolled andcompacted down with a membrane on top. The membrane overlaps, is secured under the sleepers and really for perfection should have been glued or stitched on every overlap.
We are going to have to put a soakaway drain at the gateway because when it rains heavily a river appears under the gate and flows down the drive!
I would suggest talking with Equestrian surfaces too, they offered a solution to our indoor school surface and came equipped with lots of sample boxes.
We also did our own tests on sand (hence the sea sand) pouring water on it and wacthing how it dried. The sea sand dried like a beach, fairly hard which is what we wanted to mix with our existing stuff, and t has worked really well.
If you want a recommendation there are a few eople on the forum who have ridden on ours, I can pm their names to you and ask their honest opinions!
 
Old yard had a wood pallet one and she had it made so it was 'chunkier' than the prebought ones - lasted apporx 4-5 years and she's now ripped it up and put down sand/rubber.

Personally if I were looking for a yard I would want either one of the expensive options or sand and rubber
 
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