Ok Cothers, how do I drag our jump arena without looking like I’m drunk? :lol:
Background: Not an expert dragger. Tractor w/ TR3 drag. New arena (this is where I get nervous) with a crown. Jumps aren’t moved daily. Jumps actually weren’t ever cleared out before I got there, but they will now be removed occasionally.
Advice?
Just Drag? :lol:
I drag my arena every day this time of the year because it rains so often and “sealing” the arena by dragging keeps my footing perfect regardless of rainfall. I have a tractor with an 8’ Red Master Harrow.
I set new courses once every 3 months or so, meaning I always set with a thought towards the ability to drag around each jump. I do move high traffic jumps more regularly so I don’t tear up the arena, but even so I’m always dragging around jumps.
I usually drag in overlapping circles from one side to the other in each end and then around all of the jumps in the middle any way I can. Then I go around the arena in concentric circles because I’m mildly OCD about it and like it to look pretty at the end.
But really, IME a dragged arena looks pretty no matter how you go about doing it. There’s something about the elimination of footprints that makes it look uniform even when you drive around like a drunken sailor!
And maybe others will chime in, but you shouldn’t have to worry about the fact that the arena’s new. When my arena was still new I was even more obsessive about dragging it, and I never ran into any issues with styles of dragging.
Just get out and play with it. It depends upon the size and where the jumps are as to how you do it. I usually end up going around the outside then figure 8’s and try to smooth it all out nicely before I quit. I can do a 165 X 80 in about 20 minutes and it looks nice. I doubt if you will harm the crown with just a drag.
I also a TR3 for may arena. First I drag past the front and back of each jump, then I do the rest of the arena.
No rhyme or reason for me. I just have a typical harrow that I hook up to my Gator and go to it. I usually so the outsides first, then just get around the jumps as best I can. When I’m really motivated I take all the poles down (or when I have help) and drag between the standards, but even if I don’t, I can get pretty close to them and it’s still very nice.
If the base is properly installed, you will not affect the crown. Take your time and try not to hit anything. You’ll be fine. I usually go around the track a time or two, then front and back of the jumps, then the middle. As I’m doing the middle, I’ll pull footing to the jump lines or track, wherever needs it. Once everything is done, hit the track again.
You’ll be fine. It’s very Zen after you get the hang of it.
Ok, so I CAN go through the center of the arena?
I had always thought you could, but I had never worked with a very new arena before. And then I get here and everyone is all panicked saying I can’t cross the center line because I’ll ruin the crown. Which doesn’t make sense to me because 1) Isn’t the crown due to the base, not the sand? and 2) Even when dragging an empty arena, my “centerline” is never perfect, and I imagine no one’s is.
If I can drive through the middle of the arena, then this is easy!
Correct. The crown is there from the base. As long as you don’t dig up the base the you won’t disturb the crown. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I drag in front of and behind each jump and then do the rest of the arena in a random pattern. Has always worked fine for me and I have built three arenas over the years.
Personally, I do the ends like little individual arena’s then wind around the jumps. My husband does random patterns around and between jumps (and honestly his job is sand and grading…so I’d go with him…lol).
My dragging pattern is like everyone else’s — whatever you feel like doing.
One caveat: The whole first year I used the drag that spread the manure out in the fields. With some cement blocks to hold it down. BAD idea. The tines went in too deep and the 2" rock started coming up. The entire time I lived on that farm my ring was a mess. I had to go out regularly and spend hours picking up rocks. (There is also the possibility that the ring was made incorrectly – although the man I used was known for his rings and I paid mega bucks to have it installed correctly.)
Make sure your drag is appropriate for a ring.
PS: After the first year I bought a wonderful little drag. It has 3 circles in the back which only spin when you are moving. The circles move in different directions so they spread the dirth underneath the next circle, which the pushed it back. It did a great job, but the best part was that I could back up all the way to the ground rail and perfectly drag the sand on both sides of every jump.
For people looking for a drag on a budget…I use a landscape rake, spun around backwards (so the tines are pointing to the rear). http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/countylinereg%3B-landscape-rake-5-ft
I have a rock and gravel base, so have to be extremely careful not to gouge it. This is perfect for smoothing out the divots and sealing the ring, without costing a fortune AND doesn’t touch my base 
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
