I’ve talked to the MAG guy, and got a quote. It was pricey, especially for an outdoor arena that will wash away the MGCl after a few months. Does anyone use rock salt, calcium chloride or something else that keeps their outdoor footing from freezing?
Magnesium chloride is supposed to be the safest for the hooves, but I’ve been told people use other products with good results.
What do use and where do you buy it??
If you live in a climate that things freeze there is really no way to prevent your footing from freezing in an outdoor ring.
Make sure you have good drainage and a proper base on your ring so it stays as dry as possible so it is not as likely to freeze quickly/easily and that is about all you can do.
[QUOTE=trubandloki;7953590]
If you live in a climate that things freeze there is really no way to prevent your footing from freezing in an outdoor ring.
Make sure you have good drainage and a proper base on your ring so it stays as dry as possible so it is not as likely to freeze quickly/easily and that is about all you can do.[/QUOTE]
If we have a winter like last year, I agree with you. But in a normal winter, you can certainly buy products to keep a sand arena from freezing. It takes grooming, and maintenance, but it can be done.
Calcium chloride works great. I’ve never had problems using it. It does wash away after a few months though. I agree, it would be very impractical to use Mag on an outdoor arena.
[QUOTE=2foals;7953804]
Calcium chloride works great. I’ve never had problems using it. It does wash away after a few months though. I agree, it would be very impractical to use Mag on an outdoor arena.[/QUOTE]
Where do you buy it? Prices range from $10-20 a bag… Not sure where to get it in bulk from.
Nothing will keep the outdoor rings up here from freezing!
[QUOTE=Mallard;7954552]
Nothing will keep the outdoor rings up here from freezing![/QUOTE]
I am with you, Mallard. Clearly the OP lives in a more moderate climate. Single digits day after day with lots of snow piled on top equals frozen footing, period.
Also, when the stuff washes away, it washes into the surrounding ground. That much salt (and it is a form of salt) isn’t really very good for the environment. Your grass may die, and ground water will become brackish.
I just happened across this (about quarter cracks) the other day and thought it was interesting:
"Moyer says cracks are “reasonably common.” He says, “The incidence in Standardbred racehorses is probably the highest within breed and sport types. This may be a function of the reasonably heavy workload and the fact that they are shod frequently and work on reasonably hard track surfaces. Because of the abrasive nature of some tracks, the shoes wear rapidly and thus there is the need for frequent shoeing. Racehorses in general appear to have a higher incidence, whether Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse. In my experience, the incidence in the winter is higher and further indicates that it may that the addition of chemicals to the surface to prevent surface freezing play a role.”
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/16212/hoof-cracks-causes-and-repair
Now, if it was me- I’d probably assume that if I saw a pattern- that it was the winter- and the frozen ground that was the culprit- not the antifreeze chemicals… >sigh< take from it what you will- I’m not making any point here- just sharing.
Calcium Chloride is a LOT more caustic and corrosive than magnesium chloride. Either will wash out of the sand in and outdoor arena with rain and thaw situations.
Most people don’t want to pay for freeze control for an outdoor when it’s just going to wash away - money drives the world 
[QUOTE=trubandloki;7955208]
I am with you, Mallard. Clearly the OP lives in a more moderate climate. Single digits day after day with lots of snow piled on top equals frozen footing, period.[/QUOTE]
Oh totally! When you live in Ontario/Upstate NY, I’m with you…hunker down and pray for an early spring. Down here in PA, things have been super cold lately…but most days stay above freezing. Lately it’s been arctic cold, but typically our climate is more moderate.
MAG just seems way too expensive. $800 to do the outside perimeter of my ring OR only half of my ring. And that could/will wash away and need to be redone. I’ve read plenty of blogs that use rock salt or calcium chloride. I think if you wash your horses leg after you ride, you’re fine. I haven’t come across ANY posts on here or any other forum that describes a problem with their horses legs even after they rinse them. (If anyone has had this issue, please raise your hand! :yes: )
I am more concerned with what it will do to the underbelly of our tractor when we drag the ring…
GOOD NEWS though… We are officially half way through January!!! Woot WOOT! 
Te barn here uses Mag Chlor granules in the indoor, which is fairly open sided. They buy it by the bag, hand spread it, and then drag it in. Can’t remember what they said it cost but I think around $11-12 abag, somewhere around 40 to 50#. They used around 10-11 bags., Sorry I’m not more accurate.
Of all the deicers it is the most environmentally friendly. It also keeps dust down in summer.
Who are you talking to that says it will be $800? How big is your arena?
I have always done mine myself. I drag the arena, then use a broadcast seed spreader (the push kind) and go round and round the ring until it is covered. I rarely use more that 6 or 7 bags. Then I drag again.
My arena is 100 by 220.
It is not a hard job. You could add more if you want. Then just drag it regularly.
[QUOTE=Hilary;7955218]
Also, when the stuff washes away, it washes into the surrounding ground. That much salt (and it is a form of salt) isn’t really very good for the environment. Your grass may die, and ground water will become brackish.[/QUOTE]
Did you check with the township to see if you can use a salt based product? You are right by the creek and I could see it causing a lot of problems in the watershed…
by coincidence, this link came through my Facebook today:
http://stablemanagement.com/article/slip-sliding-away
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