Adding sand to riding ring

[2bayboys]

I have a riding ring that’s about 10 years old and surfaced with rock dust. It drains well and despite solid use, the surface has held up. But it gets hard very quickly without constant dragging.

I’ve been told that mixing sand with the rock dust will help keep it from hardening as much.

Any advice on how much sand I would need for a 100x200 ring? Any other random advice?

This is not a commercial facility, it’s for personal use.

Thanks!

[showidaho]

Make sure you get the right kind of sand. Get someone who knows arenas and has experience in your area. I’m adding sand to my arena (smaller than yours - about 90x140). I want a small amount of additional sand 1-2 inches and I’m getting 4 dump truck loads…my doesn’t have any stone dust, just existing sand so I can’t be any more help than this. Good luck and happy riding.

[judybigredpony]

It should be angular grain sand sometimes called contractor sand. We were told to scarify scratch up y our rock hard blue stone with a chain drag tines down first then slowly add the sand. No more than 4 inches max…it’s easier to add than take away…Enjoy![

[PNWjumper]

You can go online to most quarry/landscaping websites and calculate how much sand to add to get the depth you want. Example: http://www.altopsoil.com/calculator.htm

I have a 10 year old arena as well. It was starting to get thin in spots last summer so I added 1/2" of coarse, washed sand. My arena is 100x180 and it took 3 dump truck loads (10 yds each) or 30 yards of sand.

I wasn’t sure 1/2" was going to be enough since the footing was about an inch in the thin spots and I want an average depth of 2-2 1/2", but it turned out really nice with just the 1/2" and I’m glad I planned it in small increments like that.

[monalisa]

You’d better price it too. I just got an estimate for adding sand to my 100 x 200 ring and it’s about a month’s salary. Can’t believe it costs so much.

[goodhors]

I would be VERY careful about adding sand to the ring, because getting the surface and under-layers too loose, deep, is not in the best interests of the horses you ride there.

Horse should have not more than 2 inches of soft, loose stuff to sink into, before his hoof hits firm surface to push off from.

Going soft and deeper than 2 inches, makes legs work much harder and fatigue faster for soft tissue injuries.

Granted your ring is older, but if you did the chain harrow dragging more often, would it keep the surface a bit looser and softer, but not deep? Lets you keep the firm surface, but not hard with packed stone.

Yeah, dragging more often is more work, but if the ring has been good all these years, no other issues, I would not be adding sand to my ring.

Horse is MADE to go on surface he can sink into a LITTLE BIT, then hit hard dirt to push off of for the stride. No firm surface under, means horse works MUCH harder, legs can get hurt easier. Would YOU rather run on the dry, deep beach sand or the hard edge along the water? Which surface lets you go easier, longer? Not easy running or WALKING on deep, giving sand. Very tiring.