Woodchip for an indoor…

[SpotsandBays]

Anybody have experience of using wood chippings as an arena* surface for an indoor? (Not for an outdoor!)
So far I’ve read one experience from somebody who said they didn’t recommend it, however I can’t seem to find any others and don’t want to completely discount the idea from just that one! (And as it’s the most budget friendly option, I’d better explore it)

Almost all of the stories I’ve seen about woodchip being rubbish is from use outdoors when it’s in all weathers, but I wonder how it would cope indoors, not getting wet? I imagine it could be dusty, however the barn is pretty airy. My concern would be if it would be slippy underfoot. I wonder if the size of the chippings make much of a difference to how it rides? I would be laying it straight onto dirt.
Any thoughts appreciated!

*low traffic ‘arena’ for light schooling, groundwork (during the wet months) and turnout when the weather is particularly poop.

 

[EventingMum]

It will work for a while but will need watering to keep the dust down. It will eventually break down just not as quickly as if outside. It will also track so will need regular levelling.

 

[Rowreach]

It’s awful and ends up not being budget friendly at all. I had it in my own indoor years ago and it rode deep because it moves and banks unless you constantly harrow it, it breaks down quickly and is very dusty.

A place near here put it down a couple of years ago. I teach there occasionally and it restricts what people can do (their choice of venue, not mine). They were hoping for lots of bookings but most people tried it and didn’t return. I’ve ridden on it and refused to do more than walk. Horrible stuff.

 

[ihatework]

Awful idea. Unstable and dusty.

 

[Northern Hare]

I don't know what the surface consisted of, but years (and years!) ago, indoor surfaces were often referred to as "tan" surfaces. It was before the days of Passada / Dormit / Fibresand etc. I just wonder what that considered of? I remember HOYS at Wembley (?) had a similar surface. Anyway, there were a couple such surfaces locally, and it seemed the horses went well on it.

 

[cowgirl16]

Had a nasty fall on this type of surface in an indoor arena. It had become very deep and very slippery. Horse lost his back end and went down.

 

[GinaGeo]

No it isn’t a great surface, but is very unstable and slippery when it’s dry as it would be indoors.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Thanks all
That’s that idea out of the window!

 

[Melody Grey]

During the heatwave a couple of summers ago, an outdoor with woodchip at a yard I was at was absolutely lethal- dried out so the chips were hard and brittle. Horses sort of drifted with the surface moving in waves. It was an accident waiting to happen, so I wouldn’t recommend it anywhere, indoors or out.

 

[Rowreach]

I don't know what the surface consisted of, but years (and years!) ago, indoor surfaces were often referred to as "tan" surfaces. It was before the days of Passada / Dormit / Fibresand etc. I just wonder what that considered of? I remember HOYS at Wembley (?) had a similar surface. Anyway, there were a couple such surfaces locally, and it seemed the horses went well on it.

A lot of them were peat based and very dusty.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I don't know what the surface consisted of, but years (and years!) ago, indoor surfaces were often referred to as "tan" surfaces. It was before the days of Passada / Dormit / Fibresand etc. I just wonder what that considered of? I remember HOYS at Wembley (?) had a similar surface. Anyway, there were a couple such surfaces locally, and it seemed the horses went well on it.

I used to go and visit a friend who rode at a riding school. They had a small arena used for the kids/lead rein classes and they told us that the surface was made from horse poo. Not sure if that was true or not but it just looked like dusty dirt to me so it could well have been!

 

[SEL]

A lot of them were peat based and very dusty.

I rode on one of those about 30 years ago. Horses were bedded on the stuff and I suspect it was cleared out of the stables into the arena. Still have the pain from busting my shoulder when a horse lost its footing on the stuff and landed on me.

No one mentioned it was the third horse to go over that week. It was summer so probably dry.

 

[Muddywellies]

I rode on one of those about 30 years ago. Horses were bedded on the stuff and I suspect it was cleared out of the stables into the arena. Still have the pain from busting my shoulder when a horse lost its footing on the stuff and landed on me.

No one mentioned it was the third horse to go over that week. It was summer so probably dry.

I used to work on a yard where we had to put the poo on the muck heap and the wet bedding (shavings) went in the indoor arena. Sounds awful now but never thought anything of it at the time. Back to the woodchip - my old arena had it and it was unstable and dangerous.

 

[dottylottie]

there’s a group on facebook called “horse barns: plans, designs and ideas” and arena surfacing has been done to death in there, so you might be able to find a budget friendly idea in there!

 

[J&S]

Agree that it is very slippery. Local venue used it unde cover years ago, I went down in it on a corner in SJ comp.
Brave pony got up and jumped through a triple!

 

[Starzaan]

Horribly slippy, wouldn't touch it I'm afraid.

 

[SpotsandBays]

there’s a group on facebook called “horse barns: plans, designs and ideas” and arena surfacing has been done to death in there, so you might be able to find a budget friendly idea in there!

Thanks I’ll check it out!

 

[eggs]

I only know of one indoor school that had it and it was very slippy. They used to run sj competitions and the number of horses that slipped and fell was awful.