Arena footing

[ReReRider]

Is one supposed to drag stone dust arenas? If so, which of the draggers would work best? Recommendations for arena sand source in Virginia?

Have a professionally installed/graded stone dust arena (made by a respected arena builder. I cannot recall the depths of the different layers, but top layer is stone dust). I rode in it for 6 months as recommended before putting sand over it. I had a more local contractor source angular sand, and place 2 inches over the top of the stone dust. It has ridden poorly since - soft/shifty, sinks down each step. Feels deep even though only 2 inches. I had the sand sent for analysis and am told that it’s way too round to be used for arena sand, and that no amount of additives would resolve this.

I am planning to have the sand removed, but not sure what I should consider putting on top. Or perhaps just ride on stone dust though I don’t think that would be a friendly surface to jump on. I have no idea where to look for reliable sand. The contractor that sourced angular arena sand obviously does not know much about sand.

[JB]

Yes, stone dust needs to be dragged, as do all footings. It can compact pretty hard if not dragged. Mine is stone dust, assuming we’re talking about the same thing - bluestone, screenings, there are a couple other names.

How compacted was the stone dust before putting on the sand? The stone dust should have been wet and vibrated to be like porous concrete, before adding the final footing (sand in this case). 2" of round sand is quite soft for sure

The right amount of stone dust is perfectly ok for jumping You need a bit more than you might think, and it needs to be regularly dragged because…concrete lol I think mine is 4", sitting on top of was was 8" of washed sandrock which was wet and vibrated down to around 6" IIRC.

[PaddockWood]

@ReReRider

I had the sand sent for analysis and am told that it’s way too round to be used for arena sand, and that no amount of additives would resolve this.

Right there’s the problem. Round sand - it moves. You need angular sand. What I also wonder is IF it’s possible to add something like Trutex and solve it. The question is overall what is the most cost effective.

If you got a bale and worked it for somewhere around $750 could that possibly get you the traction you need? Lots less expensive than removing all that sand and reinstalling. I’d call them, send a sample of it and talk. Might be your most cost effective solution.

Arena Footing Archives

[NaturallyHappy]

When we put in fiber footing, we were told it had to be angular sand to look onto the fiber. We hated it and got rid of it. Now we have sand and screenings- works well.

[Amberley]

No this won’t work. I know someone who tried it a couple years ago and it made the arena horrible, lots of horses tripping in super uneven footing. Just remove the round sand as best you can.

I also know someone who added something similar to a dirt indoor. Like western footing. That was also a disaster, it clumped up horribly.

[NaturallyHappy]

Agree w this.

[PaddockWood]

OK - good to know . My other thought was to add (since she’s just at 2 inches) a 1/2 inch of something like limestone # 9s - very angular. I have them in my driveway and they are lovely to walk and trot on with my horse. You could go get a sample - a couple buckets full and put down in a corner of your arena and see how that feels to walk over. You should feel a difference from your current footing.

Limestone in Bulk Columbus, OH | Kurtz Bros Central OH

Thoughts?

[NaturallyHappy]

I have those in my driveway, too! I quite like them.

[ReReRider]

What didn’t you like about the fiber additive?

Your current is angular sand + screenings? How much of each? And what exactly are “screenings”?

[Simkie]

@ReReRider

And what exactly are “screenings”?

Screenings is whatever your native rock is, run through the smallest screen. Depending on where you are it could be “stone dust” or “decomposed granite” or lime screenings or whatever. But it’s angular, and it’s local, and it’s less than, oh, maybe 1/4"??

[Amberley]

It’s less than 3/8", which is #10, and yes the properties will very much depend on your local rock. Some screening absorb water, for example. Some are incredibly abrasive. Some are soft, or hard or have harmful dust you shouldn’t be breathing in.

Horse people tend to use terms like screenings, angular sand, stone dust etc without actually understanding what they are or how the product is designed to be used. Often they don’t know what they actually have, just what it was sold to them as. Unfortunately you also see a lot of misinformation online now, including from quarries. It’s a negative feedback loop.

[NaturallyHappy]

We could never get the fiber to work consistently. We did EVERYTHING exactly as we were told and bought everything the company recommended. AND spent 3x more than the original quote. I had it hauled away.

We have 2 inches of limestone screenings mixed with 1” of a manufactured product that looks like bluestone. It works very well. We use mag cloride so we don’t water.

[PaddockWood]

@Amberley

Horse people tend to use terms like screenings, angular sand, stone dust etc without actually understanding what they are or how the product is designed to be used. Often they don’t know what they actually have, just what it was sold to them as. Unfortunately you also see a lot of misinformation online now, including from quarries. It’s a negative feedback loop.

Yes, what I learned from this board and excellent advice was go get a sample of whatever is recommended to confirm it’s what you want. AND, when the trucks arrive, stop them and confirm they are bringing what you ordered. Otherwise, things can go wrong and having the wrong material delivered happens and it’s a nightmare if it gets put down.

I know of a local well known trainer who used a supposed well known arena footing excavator and in fact what they delivered and installed was round sand. They refused to own up to it so he had them come and showed them his horses slipping - he actually rode on it and they saw it for themselves. They removed it and he used a different excavator to reinstall his footing.

[enjoytheride]

Well first of all fiber additives need to be kept wet or they will separate from the sand. It was the main reason I went with sand alone in my arena. They can help with the wrong type of sand, but you need to water it a lot.

I think your best bet is to remove the sand and get the correct kind.

Regarding stone dust, it will harden into concrete if you dont drag it frequently. You can ride on ot if you keep it drug but I found that eventually it wouldnt drag up so that was whrn I added sand. It will actually mix into sand and cause sand to harden as well, although this can help shifty sand. Basically youre gonna need to drag your ring especially after it rains until it dries out. I drag mine after the puddles disappear then drag daily until it dries out.

[Live_Wire]

@ReReRider

I rode in it for 6 months as recommended before putting sand over it.

Did you ride on your base for six months?

There are products out there that will help bind even round sand - but it requires frequent moisture, proper maintenance, and a realistic expectation on how much you’re able to accomplish.

Your closest quarry will likely have something suitable. If you ask for samples they’re generally happy to provide them. We’ve used Martin Marietta with good outcome.