Woodchip Menage problems

[SueWade]

We have a woodchip menage (Dormit) and it does go very deep in some places and freezes over sometimes in the winter. It used to be a bit slippery but that seems to have got better lately. Has anyone tried to mix anything else with the wood chip? Your experiences would be most appreciated. Thank you.

 

[kerilli]

don't mix sand with it whatever you do, i rode on a sand + old Dormit manege once and it was lethally slippery.
i think your only options are probably to try to compact it down more with a heavy roller, or, if it is old and the woodchip is breaking down, sell the surface as garden cover stuff (to go around plants etc, can't remember the right word for it!) and resurface. why not ring Dormit for advice if they are still going.
Cushionride is a newish woodchip surface, a friend has it (on an indoor) and it's very nice, fwiw. i think it's hardwood not softwood, so more long-lasting.

 

[Toby773]

Don't go for Cushionride; mine is slippery despite heavy compacting and horse losing its confidence to step through properly.
Cushionride's adviser suggested adding silica sand so that's interesting Kerilli.
Any suggestions would be great as can't afford to put another surface down!

 

[sammiej]

I had cushionride and now have exactly the same problem, horse has lost confidence in canter because the surface gives way underneath her. It's taken all summer in the paddock to get her canter right and now weather is changing we will have to use the menage again! but can't afford to use anything else for the time being.

 

[Rowena]

I complained to the company I purchased from but their "get out" is that they only supply the materials, not construct the arena - although they have a technical adviser!!

Somehow got the impression this company has had more than one complaint and that's why they now say "supply only". But it is certainly not the super surface it claims to be as per the advert in a certain equestrian magazine!

 

[lauraandjack]

Interesting to read everyone's thoughts on woodchip.

We have a woodchip outdoor school and it is great, not slippery at all. Only froze in the really really cold weather last winter (it was -12 at one point here, everything was frozen then even the water into people's houses!).

Ours however is not a commercial surface but I think was acquired from the forestry around here - the chips are quite large, at least 1" by 1/2" and the majority are probably more like 2" by 1" - what is Cushionride like?

We harrow our school with a sheep hurdle now and again to level it out. It could do with some more chips on now as it has settled a lot - but it works great for our purposes (although doesn't get heavy use).