Sharp Sand School Dilemma

[Wizbang]

Good morning peoples,

We have recently put in a sandschool - the foundations were all done properly with the correct levels and drainage and membranes etc .. we were recommended a sharp sand mix by someone who had used it sucessfully on another menage (!) However, on our school it is too deep (approx 7-8 inches) and the only way I can describe it is like you are trying to ride through treacle !! It is obviously not working at all and here is the question .....

If the level of the sharp sand was taken down to a few inches (where it appears to be pretty solid underneath) can I then put a few inches of Rubber Track on top? Will this work? Has anyone tried this?

I know that we should have used silica but the long and short is that we didn't and now I need to know if this can be corrected without having to take the whole lot out again. Has anyone had experience of this at all and/or known someone who has corrected this successfully

Thanks guys !

Sarah.

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

Sand needs to be angular to compact. Imagine if sand has the same sized granules and it is round and not angular it is the equivalent of riding in a tray of marbles. Like a kids ball pool.

We had problems with the sand we first put down as we never had it analysed and after found out although it was silica it wasn't angular. It always rode deep and no matter what we fix we never improved it.
We had rubber on the top and then scraped that off and put some Turf float in it which is like felt scraps. It did improve it slightly when it was wet but it was still unrideable

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

Sorry pressed the wrong button. Blooming iPhone!!

Anyway, in my opinion and from somebody that explored every avenue I would say get your sand analysed to find out what shape and size it is and go from there but I would hazard a guess that you will end up taking it all off and starting again!

If you do start again. Get a sample from the supplier next time and get it analysed before going ahead.
There is a good company called Site Analytical Services that is very helpful. That's who I used and they were brilliant. (BTW I have no connections with this company so I am not advertising)

Good luck and hope this all makes sense!

 

[YasandCrystal]

My sympathies are with you - it is a shame you were misinformed. Sharp sand as you have found out is really unsuitable for manege use. I agree with the other poster - I would get it analysed and pay for some professional advice, even if that is to get it removed and start again with a new surface.

You could try reducing the volume of sand to 5 inches max and rolling it. Have you rolled it yet? That may work. I don't know who suggested 7 to 8 inches as this is imo exceptionally deep with any type of surface. My manege is 4.5 " and I think that is perfect. I think from memory we used around 150 tonnes of crag in a 20m x 38m manege.

If you cannot run to the cost of silica sand then do consider 'crag' - which is available at certain quarries around the UK. It rides really well and provides a good supportive surface that holds moisture to a degree too. It's only downside imo is that it does stain legs a bit for the first couple of years - orangey! It's a good jumping surface too. When we bought it it was around £13 a tonne compared to silica being £21 a tonne and the latter also requiring a rubber or material topper, so a good price.

Goodluck.