Arena maintenance - how best to level sand arena?

[dqtastic]

I have a newer sand arena with a 2% ish grade - this winter we had a lot of rain so there are spots where footing has migrated - when new it was a consistent 2 - 3 " of sand, but now there are sections where the sand is deep and others where it is quite thin. What equipment do i need to maintain a nice level of footing? i’ve been using a fixed drag and a chain link fence harrow but neither help distribute footing evenly, they just drag stuff out.

I have connected with one arena groomer company but they aren’t answering my question - which i feel is a pretty basic one? Surely i’m not the only person who has wandering footing? Thank you!

[FromTheGalaxy]

Following because I also have this problem. Was considering hiring a guy who has a Harley rake to come redistribute the sand. I’ve heard of people using it on their crushed limestone/fines arenas, but not sure I’ve seen anyone use it on sand. A little worried that it might dig into our base in the thinner spots.

[Live_Wire]

Unfortunately the only foolproof way to ensure even distribution of sand it to strip the sand entirely to ensure the base is still level.

[LCDR]

This is a small job for an arena builder, and not worth the time to haul in the equipment. So I am not surprised at no responses.

This is best accomplished on your own with a box blade with a laser grading setup. The last producer of such a free-assembled item quit marketing them several years ago. If you have a compact tractor with a three point hitch and a front end loader as a starting point, and are mechanically inclined, you can put together your own setup for around $6,000. If you want to go that route ask and I will post a link to videos on what to buy and how to put it all together.

If that’s too much for you, you need a box blade and a laser with a grade function and a helper with a surveying rod, and lots of time. Box blade, about $1000, and the laser kit around $500.

I am speaking from experience; you can do it yourself given time and patience. Here is a pic of my recent re-grading of my dressage arena in progress. The mound is that removed from just a 20x20 meter section. The whole job took me about two weeks working about 8 hours a day. I was absolutely amazed at how much sand had to be moved to change grade by just one percent and to get it re-leveled. It already had a decent base so I was just working with the upper four inch sand layer.

[NaturallyHappy]

You might look at ABI…their arena groomers have the option of a leveling bar. I’ve had two…they did a good job. I imagine it depends on how much damage you have. The have videos on line you can watch. I hope this helps you.

[Bonnie2]

I called the guy who did my ring. He came out when he had a half day a took care of it. Need to call him again now that you mention it…

[Pico_Banana]

I have the same issue. I am pretty confident my base is fine and that it’s just the sand/fiber.

I have been attempting to do this on my own using a very low tech method. I go methodically around the ring and measure depth (using a marked screwdriver). Then I mark each measurement spot with a color coded bamboo kebab stick stuck in the sand - low, good, high. Then I try to move the sand using a landscape rake. I tried using my box blade on my tractor but it was too clumsy given my marking system.

It actually works somewhat okay, but obviously is a long term project.

[NaturallyHappy]

ABI has a profiler blade you can put on their drags. It’s worked very well for me. Instead of having teeth, it’s a flat blade that cuts/fluffs/packs (the sand underneath it) to also maintain depth. I don’t think it would work for fiber though.

[dqtastic]

Thank you everyone - i am sad there’s not an easier fix! If anyone else has other suggestions, please do add in!

[Huntin_Pony]

I was not as meticulous as some of you folks, but I used the snowblade on my four wheeler. The blade has adjustable “feet,” shaped like upside-down mushrooms so it won’t drop all the way to the ground. I just drove around and pushed sand out of the deep spots towards the thin spots. It took a few hours scattered over several days. I had to ride in it to figure out when I was done. Ongoing dragging with the chain harrow has completed the process over the winter.

[dqtastic]

Great idea! “Feet” might just be what i need on my blade to help me from having to eyeball it! Thank you!

[keatssu]

We’ve had our arena for 10 years - sand with a little bit of rubber mixed in. It was built properly and drains well. I hate to tell you that there is no magic way to keep footing perfectly level, but that is the reality. We have a TR3 groomer which does a great job, but even the profiler bar does not re-level the footing. I know this because I called ABI when my footing depth got uneven. Footing gets deep in the corners and along the rails and needs to be pulled off and brought to the shallow areas. My husband uses the bucket of the tractor to do this. Also, there are dragging patterns that you can use to help keep things level.

[NaturallyHappy]

I had trouble w my TR 3 doing that, as well. I sold it and bought a smaller Arena Rascal. It really doesn’t do that…pulled them both w a tractor. I use a smaller tractor w the smaller arena rascal…I find that very curious. I’m sure happy about it.

[spacehorse]

Thanks for posting this, I am in the same boat right now. I joke that my sand is reproducing itself in certain places in my arena. I have an Arena Rascal, it has a blade but it is not redistributing the footing as I had sort of hoped it would. I have been over my ring many times backdragging with my bucket, and moving the sand out by hand.

I thought once I got it to where I wanted it (builder put entirely too much sand in after I told him to stop ) but one of my corners is now deep, and spots along the rail opposite the deep corner barely have any footing

I am seriously considering adding some fiber, and my Rascal does not work on fiber. That darn Rascal was expensive, so I haven’t made my mind up on anything yet. But that is for another thread!

[endlessclimb]

I don’t know why people think the Rascal will distribute uneven material. It will not, because the wheels are just going to float on the deeper stuff. It will never dig deeper than what you have it set at, regardless of the footing depth.

[NaturallyHappy]

I thought I remembered seeing a leveling blade you could add on???

[endlessclimb]

The profile blade? That cuts to the arena base. But if the area is really deep, the wheels will contact and that’s as deep as it can/will go.

[Bluey]

We have used a TR3 forever and it keeps our 3 1/2" of sand perfectly level.
We just don’t let it go long between dragging, do it every day it is used and watering just right, about once a week or so for us, helps.
We have yet to get very uneven spots and ropers and barrel racers are hard on level arenas.

I think the TR3 works great, but it took us lots of tweaking before we found what settings were best for our use, it was not easy.
The TR3 has an extension with a little wheel to get against the walls and push any sand there into the middle. We didn’t get that and may get a few inches higher border against it, but is easy to push back down with the bucket or by hand.
The rest has stayed perfectly flat.