Arena footing arriving in super sacks

[danacat]

The footing (ArenaGreen) for my new outdoor arena is starting to arrive – in 3000 lb super sacks; they open from the bottom (funnel) to dump out.

200 tons of footing = approx 135 sacks. We’re using a Lull to transport from delivery truck to arena; lift and dump. Finished depth of footing will be 3"

Has anyone dealt with super sacks? Did you dump one (in a corner) spread that to 3" then dump second sack, spread…third sack and so on? Or did you dump a whole row (or 2) and then spread? Or did you dump them all, equal distance apart (little mounds everywhere) and then work your way in speading as you go?

The goal is to minimize tearing up the stone dust base by driving skid steer back and forth over it while spreading. So I’m inclined to think that the ‘dump them all out’ method (mounds everywhere) would be best.

Thoughts? Tips from experience with super sacks?

[Live_Wire]

Little mounds everywhere is the way to go.

[LCDR]

Wow! I have been looking at footing options for my dressage arena and the ArenaGreen site gives me a price of $71,000, plus shipping.

Csn anyone tell me what this product is composed of? Their web site is very secretive. It makes a big deal about telling me what it does NOT contain, but if it says what it actually is I can’t find that information.

[Live_Wire]

In layman’s terms, it’s sub-angular sand coated with latex then mixed with coir. I’ve ridden on it and really liked it.

Being pre-mixed is a huge selling point IMO. It is very difficult to mix fiber evenly into an arena once the footing has already been laid down.

I don’t know what size your arena is, but honestly that price doesn’t seem astronomical or out of line.

[LCDR]

I recently was quoted slightly over $60,000 to do my standard dressage arena over with new GGT footing- including materials, material delivery and labor by an established arena builder here in town, with a new base layer and footing layer. So yeah, $72,000 (material cost, no ldelivery charges included) for 3 inches of footing material to spread myself over my current base does seem pricey.

That is why I wondered what the magical ingredients are.

[Jarpur]

After reading the Get Well Soon, Reed thread on the Eventing Forum, where Reed posted:

“The reason my shoulder is seperated is because it took the full hit. I think most of us who grew up riding and training pukes from the field have the instinct to go to our back/shoulders in a fall as in the video. The big variable is the footing. That GGT footing had absolutely no give or slip. That is why I barrel rolled after the first hit. Had I slid I don’t think anything would have happened.”

I’m not in the market for new footing, but I personally don’t think I’d get GGT footing without really checking out the possible consequences – this is not the first time I’ve heard that rider injuries from falls appear to be worse on GGT.

ETA @RAyers

[NaturallyHappy]

Me, too…. Horse injuries, as well.

[Live_Wire]

Agreed. I avoid KHP because I’m not a huge fan of GGT.

[danacat]

ArenaMend uses a very high quality silica sand – 99% quartz-- hard as a rock. I know where they get it from because I’m friendly with someone at the sand plant that supplies them. This top quality sand must account for the higher-end price tag + being pre mixed etc.

My ArenaGreen footing was just put down – my contractor finished the job today. It looks amazing! Now need to use Mini DragNfly to finish it off before riding. Really nice to walk on – on foot. Horses should love it.

[Live_Wire]

That’s very hard to source. And when you do, you pay $$$ for delivery because it’s often truckloads over state lines. It’s definitely the gold standard in the arena game.