Temporary Menage

[FinleyBlue]

Hi All,

I am based on a yard to myself with 8 acres and 5 stables.

We are in Tamworth, UK, and due to overhead pylons and the high speed rail planning, we cannot build a permanent school at the moment, well not that we can't, more don't want to spend thousands as we wouldn't get it back due to being aware of the plans ahead. The HUGE pylons are soon to be relocated, afetr this, we can go ahead!

Anyway, I digress. My ground is only ever too dry (slippy) or too wet (slippier still)!

I need something that works well enough to lightly school on and lunge on. I'm no GP rider so doesn't need to be fabulous.

So.. help with a temporary school please

My land is...
-on a slight incline and we are happy to JCB it level
-is on good drainage
-money isn't an issue however we don't want to spend much.

Please advise me on drainage, surface types, costings etc.

All help appreciated as I am getting desperate!!

TIA xxx

 

[Abacus]

If you can level an area, how about putting down rubber crumb and perhaps making an edging of planks so hold it in place as much as possible? If you put some down frequently it mixes with the soil and you end up with a grassy area but with rubber all through the soil, making it a better surface all year round. I know someone who has done this in a 20m ring and it works well for lunging etc. It would probably be just as good over the whole area for schooling.

I don't know about drainage but I imagine you want an area which drains well.

 

[FinleyBlue]

Thank you! Out of curiosity, aprox how many tonnes of a surface would I need to fill a 20 by 40 arena?

 

[Abacus]

Oh Gawd, I am no expert on this! I really don't know. I think the thing is to add it quite gradually so that the rubber becomes part of the soil structure. Done right, I believe it's possible to make an arena that is usable through much of the year (and doesn't require planning consent, if you don't fence it) - as the rubber protects the grass and prevents it becoming boggy and slippery. To be clear we are talking about very fine crumb rubber, not the coarse chippings you would normally use in an arena.

 

[kathantoinette]

My personal opinion would be to hold off - hire a school if possible for the time being and put all your money into building a proper, permanent one when its possible.

 

[Booboos]

Remove the top soil, put down a blinding layer then sand. It will flood and is a botch job but the cheapest temporary solution for you.