What is the best surface for a dressage arena?
While sand is the most popular surface material please note that there are many different types of sand available, so you’ll still need to consider the type of sand that’s just right for your dressage arena.
How deep should arena footing be for horses?
The depth of footing for your horse arena will depend on your discipline, arena traffic, whether or not you have the ability to water and groom your arena, and if it’s sand only or sand mixed with an additive. But in general, the range of depth for footing typically varies between 3–6 inches.
How deep should my arena sand be?
The depth of arena footing sand depends on the sand quality and the riding discipline. Usually, 3-4 inches of a fine sand is used for dressage and jumping arenas with a geotextile sand additive. For plain sand arenas, 2-3 inches of a fine sand is recommended.
Is silica sand good for Arenas?
Silica arena sand is ideal for horse riding arenas due to the quality, firmness and drainage properties of the sand. Watering the sand or adding rubber chip and fibre will maintain its firmness and quality. It is crucial to select the correct sand to ensure you are able to create the ideal surface for horse riding.
How deep should the dirt be in a horse arena?
Generally, a 2”-2.5″ depth of quality sand is sufficient for the lower levels. However, if you’re training jumpers at the mid to upper levels, you’ll need more shock absorption and cushion in your arena footing than a shallow sand alone can provide.
Is concrete sand good for horse arenas?
Coarse sands, commonly called concrete sand, are the least expensive, but can cause shearing. “Silica sands are harder in composition, so they don’t break down, and pure silica sand is free of silt and clay, so it is dust-free,” Calhoun says. It offers excellent stability, but a harder ride.
What is the best arena surface?
For best results, use a material that can be packed absolutely solid, such as decomposed granite or stone dust. When choosing the footing for your arena, use a form of sub-angular sand, such as masonry sand, rather than concrete sand.
Is masonry sand good for arenas?
Fine Sand: This sand’s particles range between 0.42 mm – #40 sieve and 0.074 – #200 sieve (40/200). Masonry Sand is widely available and mixes well with crumb rubber products such as Prostride Arena Footing.