Sharp sand for indoor?

[IhaveTooMany]

Possibly renting a large indoor shed to ride in.
I'm looking for a cheap surface that will do to ride on won't be jumping or anything major. Just some light schooling and lunging.
What sands/surfaces would be ok indoors? Is there any to avoid ie too dry or worse, slippy?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Not sharp sand it is too abrasive and can cause cuts and sores on heels and pasterns. I’d be asking advice of arena builders , I once was at a livery yard with a small indoor sand school and my mare lost her footing and slid into the wall. The building had been a cow shed so concrete floor and sand on top.

 

[setterlover]

I think cubicle sand would be better than sharp sand.

 

[TPO]

For arenas you need silicone sand of a certain grade, possibly P100 but I could be wrong.

Some people have had success with thr carpet surface. It'll depend on where you get it from. A previous yard I was on got it and it was full of sharp bits of metal. Accident waiting to happen.

I don't think there is a cheap way to have a suitable and safe surface, maybe just cheaper options [in comparison to other costs].

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't use sharp sand it's abrasive and heavy.

Might be worth looking around for someone selling off an unwanted surface I've seen people do this and it will be much cheaper way of doing it.

 

[ThreeFurs]

'Surfaces nazi' here, since I competed for 8 years on a wb schoolmaster who already had a bit of arthritis when I got him at 15 y o. I really had to manage what I rode him on, and the vet advice is of course for supportive work surfaces, but also seek variation, rotatong through the riding week. arena, road tarmac, soft track etc.
Absolutely minimal sand. I've left otherwise nice yards because of too much sand on arenas [and horses slipping and falling, or straining tendons]. You want a surface where the horse's toe goes in only 2.5 cm no more, maybe a bit more for jumping, and a surface with some grip, some 'spring back' and a proper base.

A good test is just, put your horse away [and wait til everyone's gone] and do a quick full on sprint yourself across your arena. If your slipping and sliding around, feel like your running through a sand dune, and gasping at the end, then its not a good surface. This FEI guide can probs tell you more than I can ... everyone one puts down too much sand! https://inside.fei.org/system/files/Equestrian_Surfaces-A_Guide.pdf

 

[Fransurrey]

A good test is just, put your horse away [and wait til everyone's gone] and do a quick full on sprint yourself across your arena. If your slipping and sliding around, feel like your running through a sand dune, and gasping at the end, then its not a good surface.

That's basically the surface at my yard. I won't use it. Thankfully I'm a happy hacker so it's not a big deal.

 

[sport horse]

Silica sand and fibre/rubber