Walking On Volume 2, Issue 2, February 2015 | Page 7

recommend granite or a hard limestone
(not soft limestone).
The stone layer should be 4” compacted
depth when laid (dependent upon type of
sub-soil), ideally the stone layer should
extend 20” beyond the fence/kick boards
so the perimeter drain is laid outside the
school.
Be cautious if your contractor does not
specify the grade/quantity or depth of the
materials being laid. Clearly if less stone
is used, it will be cheaper and some contractors will reduce the specification and
price in order to win the work.
Hard: means the stones are frost resistant, i.e. will not break down after successive winters or fracture due to the weight
of maintenance machinery.
The quarry can provide ‘technical data
sheets’ if in any doubt. A good test: Take
two stones and bang them together, they
should not dust, crack or break. If they
do, they are not frost resistant.
Angular stones must inter-link together,
so they need to be of similar size, typically
1 ¾” to 2 ¾”. (If the stone is rounded it
will never “knit” together, so the surface
will never be correctly compacted if the
base layer moves.)

Choosing the Right Surface

of the 21st century.

Well-kept turf is the ideal surface for
training and equestrian competitions; it
is the traditional footing for all equestrian
sports. However, in situations where turf
cannot be sustained, all-weather surfaces
for horses allow them to train and compete in different situations and weather
conditions.

Upgrading Your Arena Surface

There are six main types of surfaces
for horses available in the U.S. – fibers,
sand/mix, dirt, wood products, rubber,
and wax-coated (often referred to as
all-weather). These days PVC and rubber
are less popular choices as they tend to
“ride deep” in dry periods and disposal
legislation is becoming restrictive; so
structural fibers are becoming the norm.
* Wax-Coated Equestrian Surfaces

Wax-coated equestrian surfaces will
give you the closest equivalent to turf,
without the need for “managed rain fall.”
* Dry, Sand-Based Surfaces
Dry, sand-based surfaces refer to
equestrian surfaces made up of sand,
mixed or topped with another material
such as rubber or synthetic fibers. This
addition of fibers to sand is becoming the
most commonly used equestrian surface

Extreme weather conditions inevitably
put added pressure on your arena surface.
Common problems are that surfaces become either too firm or too deep, and – in
the case of sand-based surfaces – dry and
dusty. If your surface is suffering, don’t
automatically assume that it’s a case of
facing the expense of entire replacement.
A complete overhaul is not always necessary (and certainly not always within
an individual’s budget). Consider, instead
surface enhancement, or refurbishment.
Replacing the whole surface is, of
course always an option. However, it is
advisable to verify the condition of the
underlying base. If the base is in need of
remedial work this should be done before
any replacement of surface, otherwise
you will only be ‘throwing good money
after bad!
Care and Maintenance of Your
Surface
The amount and type of arena grooming often depends on what type of surface
you have. Some of the ‘dry’ surfaces require more water or grooming than others.

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