Sand for arena, What and Where to buy?

[Puzzled]

Am putting in an arena, using rubber strips for the surface but just need to locate sand (silica) or has anyone used anything else? We're in S Wales, close to the Severn Bridge if anyone has any recommendations for ny companies I'd be greatful as struggling to get any at mo apart from miles away and the huge transport costs!! Thanks.

 

[Booboos]

Call your local quaries, they might be able to give you a good price on transport (access makes a huge difference so you need to know how large a truck you cna get to your site). Make sure you know what to ask for, sand suitable for equestrian use should be small,(around 0.25cm should be good) angular particles.

 

[Puzzled]

Thanks, my best quote so far is £7000 for a 23 x43 arena, which seems incredibly expensive or maybe not?!?

 

[Mainland]

Silica Sand should be fine grade sub-angular grains. 0.25cm is far too big. The size of Silica Sand particles is measured in microns with the ideal range being 100-140 microns. It is not advisable to use coarser sands as the surface will ride very deep when dry.

 

[little_critter]

Have a look at Aggregate Industries / Bardon Aggregates who have a good source of sand at Warmwell (Dorset) or Garside sands who supply good quality silica sand but are based near Luton.
Unfortunatley South Wales isn't known for it's sand quarries!

 

[Miss L Toe]

Well I wonder where there are instructions for arena construction, here in bonnie scotland wood chip type surfaces do not always withstand 60 inches of rain [thats five foot of water!]
I thought the idea was to start with a flat rectangle with drainage, a ditch will remove the the main part of the water, herringbone drainage is used to bring water to the ditch.
Then a membrane to stop the base mixing with the surface.
Then either sand or rubber mix, the surface cannot be too deep, but should be even. I am not sure that layers of sand and rubber will work, unless a well tried mix.

 

[Booboos]

Apologies of course I meant mm not cm! This is a good leaflet on sand:
http://www.dressagearena.net/images/Sand Specifications Booklet.pdf

7k sounds expensive for a local quary, but it does depend on the transport costs, e.g. if you are very far away from the quary and they need to use small trucks to access you it will increase the costs.

 

[Rhandir]

You could try Cardigan Sand http://www.cardigansand.co.uk/sports.html although it may still be too far away from you

 

[Tiddlepiddle]

Try Bathgate in Cheshire. They supply a reasonably light coloured arena grade sand. Think it is about £26 per tonne plus delivery but it comes in 40t wagons.