Arena groomer -- to COMPACT!

[normandy_shores]

I know that’s totally opposite of what most groomers are trying to achieve. I have removed a whackload of footing (literally, enough footing to fill my friend’s round pen, top up another friend’s ring, and provide footing for the riding club’s new ring!) and my ring is much better than it was. It still is a bit soft and the footing is slightly uneven in places, so I’ve been harrowing to spread it around.

I would like to make something that grooms it then almost compacts it. Or maybe I could go over it with a roller after? This is a personal use arena only, but the footing used originally just isn’t angular type sand, it’s more like river sand if that makes sense. It holds up pretty well and isn’t too slippery or anything, it’s just soft.

I was thinking of making a drag that was just a big wood square post (maybe 4-5" wide) and stringing chains behind it. I have an ATV to drag with.

Anyone made one like this?

I am not staying at this property for more than a few years, so am not changing footing, nor am I looking to spend thousands on a groomer, unfortunately. Just trying to make the most of what I have for now!

[brody]

Roller you can fill with water would likely be more effective

[msj]

I’m guessing you’re referring to an outdoor ring. I can tell you what helped to compact the sand footing in my indoor and you can try it to see if it helps. Over several years I would put down either calcium chloride or magnesium chloride pellets to keep the dust down and to retain the moisture. I also put down rubber from Footings Unlimited but I don’t think that compacted what I had. Eventually, I will say that the footing did compact. I was always very good about dragging the arena with a York Rake to smooth out footsteps etc. One or 2 yrs I bought bags of salt for driveways etc and used it as well when I couldn’t find mag chloride.

I’ll be honest in that I haven’t had to add anything like that for probably 6+ years and with the exception of last winter, I dragged the arena usually 1/wk to 3 times/wk. Come summer I would leave 3 large doors (12-15’)open and the arena never got dusty. No horses last winter is why it only got drug in the fall and then again in the spring.

PS. The sand I used was mason sand and it was put in 25 yrs ago. The depth now is about 2" whereas it used to be 4".

Hope this helps.

[msj]

double post deleted.

[Mosey_2003]

Do you have anywhere locally that you could get a really fine lime (limestone dust) and add some of that? Lime will pack it in a bit for you.

[normandy_shores]

I should add this is an outdoor ring. We are out in the sticks too!

I harrow it flat (no tines) after almost every ride, at least a few times a week for sure.

Not sure how locally I can get a fine limestone.

[normandy_shores]

[QUOTE=brody;8154044]
Roller you can fill with water would likely be more effective[/QUOTE]

I’m finding yard/lawn rollers that you fill with water for weight, is that what you’re referring to? Or a roller that also waters? THAT would be ideal as I’d love to water my footing too, but not likely going to happen

[S1969]

Unfortunately, I think you’re fighting a losing battle trying to compact it with a groomer. I would spend that time/money trying to add something else to it.

You could try rolling it with a water-filled roller…I am not sure any of them water while you roll but that’s an interesting idea…maybe you can invent that!

If I were you I’d try to get crushed bluestone (stone dust) or something to add to it.

[Jim_in_PA]

Compaction may help for “very short term” with your sand, but lacking the angular aspects that are missing from “river sand”, it’s not going to stay compacted very well. Adding screenings can help…they should be available from most quarries. In this area, outdoor arenas probably have a higher percentage of screenings than sand for good all-weather footing.

[Mozart]

Adding mag chloride or calcium chloride will help, it draws moisture from the air and the added moisture helps the grains bind together. However, if you get a lot of rain it will get washed away. I battle a bit of the same problem, my sand was supposed to be angular but it sure does not act like it. Until I can afford to replace it (and fix the base…that is a whole other issue…) I make do with calcium chloride, judicious watering (enough to help bind but not so frequently as to quickly wash it away) and a chain harrow. Frankly though, I think the tires of the tractor do more to compact it than the chain harrow. The chain harrow seems to help with evening it out.

[normandy_shores]

Unfortunately, we’re only on this property for 3 more years, not looking to dump a lot of money into the footing. And most people here don’t want the compacted footing I want – I’m pretty much the only jumper/dressage rider in the area save one or two.

[Jumper_girl221]

We’ve been using a cultipacker on my new ring to get the footing compacted since its a brand new ring.

http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a190111.jpg

It smooths out the sand, but also rolls and compacts.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=normandy_shores;8168785]
Unfortunately, we’re only on this property for 3 more years, not looking to dump a lot of money into the footing. And most people here don’t want the compacted footing I want – I’m pretty much the only jumper/dressage rider in the area save one or two.[/QUOTE]

How big is the ring? I get a small dumptruck load of bluestone screenings every year for around $300. It would obviously take some work to add it to a ring evenly, but it might be possible to make a difference with less than <$1k of materials.

It’s really hard to say without seeing it in person; it doesn’t sound like a good footing for any discipline, but it also may be that some people really don’t know any different.

I made a mistake by agreeing to have “free” sand added to my small, inexpensive bluestone arena - and it had way too silt. It still worked fine in perfect conditions but I have spent the last few years adding things to amend it, grooming it before it dries after a rain so it won’t turn into a hard brick, etc. I think in the end it would have been a lot cheaper to have bought decent footing in the first place.