Depth of sand for arena?

[wabuska]

I'm being told 6". Does this ride too deep?

[antares]

Kanga I think that would have to depend on the surface itself - can you check with the various manufacturers?

[wabuska]

Well I want Wexford sand, but they are advising me to go with six inches and that sounds too deep to me.

[jen1]

6 inch is right, but it depends on the sand you have down which way the water wil drain off it, in my indoor i have beach sand mixed with grit sand and it works well for what i need it for, outdoor has normal sand of the right kind? with rubber topping

[wabuska]

Well I want the drainage and footing to be right, but I don't want to over spec' as I've been told it's easier to add than take away!

[iceberg]

I will be interested to hear replies on this as our sand school is imo too deep. Its got to be at least 6 inches, and when its dry Archie sinks in it up to his coronet band and finds it very hard going.
Even the tbs on the yard sink in deep and struggle in dry weather. This time of year its fine, a good surface to use, but its not at all 'springy ' like at a former yard I was on which looked as though rubber and fibres were mixed in - that was brilliant. This school is just sand I think, although ive no idea what kind.

[wabuska]

I have a guy coming in the morning to take a look around and if I go ahead, I'll do a good photo diary on the construction etc.

[Amanda Seater]

Kanga - If you can stretch to it a waxed sand surface is best.
I assume you are outside.
A silica sand surface is best mixed with fibre to make the riding less deep.You can top it up with rubber -but I don't like that personally
To be laid on an appropriate sub base with drainage.
YOU WILL NEED a membrane between sub base and the surface. not a slippy one either - make sure is is something like typar( fluffy ish) rather than mypex (smooth woven plastic stuff)
5-6 inches is correct, this should be appropriatley watered and compacted to create a riding surface of 4 inches ish. It is recommended that surfaces are leveled at least twice a week or daily depending on traffic.

You can get sand and fibre delivered for you to level and then power harrow the fibre in
yourselves up to 50% cheaper than a premix
I can currently give good specks for indoor arena lighting if anyone wants!

I have jsut been doing costings for this so ...

[wabuska]

Thanks Amanda. I have a quad, so can use that to level. Great info. Ta.

[jen1]

the right kind of sand has to have the right kind of angle to it, daft as it sounds, but normal sand can be used if the angles are right , too much angle the rain will run off too quickly and the sand will blow about and be too deep, too flat the other way and it compacts down, do you see what i mean about drainage of the individual sand quialities, like we did research research and research again, we also have french drains in ours,

[Amanda Seater]

yup jen - french drains are a must. I can recommend a company that will supply equestrian silica sand in the UK - they may know someone or even supply to Ireland.
The one sand to avoid is very round particle sand. AND builders soft sand is often very red and stains like mad!