MAG flakes/indoor arena dust control

[Egioja]

I am leasing a facility with an indoor arena, and am looking for some dust-control options. It’s fully enclosed, and slightly smaller then a full size dressage court (about 60’x180’). The footing itself is really pretty good when it’s watered and drug often. The challenge is that we are in Reno, NV-its often too cold to water in the winter without risk of freezing. In the summer it’s so dry that its dusty again a few hours after being watered/drug.

I am hoping to try the MAG flakes, but I’m not sure of the amounts, and if I can just get the generic ones at Home Depot. I am also open to any other ideas-within a reasonable budget

Has anyone used MAG in an arid climate indoor with good luck? I don’t mind re-applying as needed if it actually works!

Thanks!

[Brian]

We’ve used Mag Chloride and other salts in the past and wish we hadn’t. Even though we’re in Northern Illinois, plain water seems to work the best. We use a 150 gallon water cart for our 90 x 120 indoor about once a week all year long. After watering, we work the footing with a TR3 arena drag. One load of water and the footing is nearly perfect.

[merrygoround]

I have used Mag Chlor for over 15 years, in a standard arena. I never water, summer or winter, it doesn’t freeze either. I use about 10 -40# bags every fall. Here in the NE we usually have enough humidity to have no dust even in a dry spell.

I would start with that much at least. You can always add more. I’ve used both pellets and flakes and found no difference. Just be sure that the bags are 100%, Mag Chlor.

[Egioja]

Brian-what was is about the mag chloride you didn’t like?

So happy to hear that the pellets work as well, they are much easier to find in my area then the flakes.

[Brian]

[QUOTE=Egioja;8498644]
Brian-what was is about the mag chloride you didn’t like?

So happy to hear that the pellets work as well, they are much easier to find in my area then the flakes.[/QUOTE]

It was a number of years ago when we tried the mag chloride. What I can recall is that it just didn’t work for keeping the dust down after a couple of weeks. Maybe I did it wrong.

The best non corrosive dust control I’ve seen used, was mineral oil. But even that had to be reapplied yearly. I was all set to go that route until I got pricing.

Watering used to be a pain when we used a hose and sprinkler. It took too long and it seemed that at inevitably the person watering would get sidetracked doing something else and we’d end up with a small pond in the indoor. The water cart I built solved everything. We fill it while we are doing chores. It literally takes 5 minutes to water the indoor with a nice even spray. The cart also serves a dual purpose by transporting water around the farm in the winter time.

[Trails]

I have tried the mag chloride and was not impressed. I ended up getting large drums of mineral oil. Bought a couple of watering cans, increased the hole size and oiled the arena myself. Best thing I ever did! It lasted over 2 years. I then lightly spread some more and it’s coming up another 2 years.
Arena is 60 x 150.

[RTF]

I use mag flake in my indoor in michigan. I have a 60x108, and it is just sand footing. I was told, by an arena Rehabber out west, the more mag, the better. Also, once it is on, do not water it, as it washes it out. If I put down 6-8, 50lb bags, I notice a difference and it keeps it from freezing. I have heard of people putting a pallet of bags on a new ring. I would say start with at least 20-30 bags, to see how much of a difference there is. The first year, I put about ten bags in it, and now every winter we add about 6 more. There are times, I still get some dust, but my indoor stays fairly clean since it draws water into the footing. I think they recommend mag flake, because it’s more pet friendly, and the flakes seem to disperse better than the pellets. I had to use Road Runner Ice melt on mine this year, and was not nearly as pleased with the results.

[Egioja]

[QUOTE=Trails;8498899]
I have tried the mag chloride and was not impressed. I ended up getting large drums of mineral oil. Bought a couple of watering cans, increased the hole size and oiled the arena myself. Best thing I ever did! It lasted over 2 years. I then lightly spread some more and it’s coming up another 2 years.
Arena is 60 x 150.[/QUOTE]

This sounds plausible, but possibly more expensive then what I can do.How many drums did you need? Have you noticed any effects in terms of oily residue (either on arena dirt that tracks out into the isle, or on jump poles/standards/your shoes?

[Egioja]

[QUOTE=Brian;8498702]
It was a number of years ago when we tried the mag chloride. What I can recall is that it just didn’t work for keeping the dust down after a couple of weeks. Maybe I did it wrong.

The best non corrosive dust control I’ve seen used, was mineral oil. But even that had to be reapplied yearly. I was all set to go that route until I got pricing.

Watering used to be a pain when we used a hose and sprinkler. It took too long and it seemed that at inevitably the person watering would get sidetracked doing something else and we’d end up with a small pond in the indoor. The water cart I built solved everything. We fill it while we are doing chores. It literally takes 5 minutes to water the indoor with a nice even spray. The cart also serves a dual purpose by transporting water around the farm in the winter time.[/QUOTE]

This is exactly the problem with our current sprinkler method. Getting even wetness is just about impossible-and even when it’s not forgotten about, by the time the whole ring is watered the area that got done first is almost dry.

Do you have any pictures of the water cart you built?

[Brian]

[QUOTE=Egioja;8498945]
This is exactly the problem with our current sprinkler method. Getting even wetness is just about impossible-and even when it’s not forgotten about, by the time the whole ring is watered the area that got done first is almost dry.

Do you have any pictures of the water cart you built?[/QUOTE]

You have a PM.

[partita]

Lots of great information here, including dust control in horse arenas:
http://meltsnow.com/products/magnesium/dry-magnesium-chloride/
I use a product from Compass Minerals called SafeStep Extreme 8300 (It’s the one in the red bag. They may have changed it to green) that my local TruValue Hardware store orders for me.
http://www.nasalt.com/products-applications/deicing/residential/

[cinthia]

Love it!

I am not too far away from you. Do not use the stuff which only contains a little magnesium and mostly sodium chloride! Careful, you may need to spritz your arena with a little water periodically since your humidity is so low. Tip: contact Huck Salt in Fallon, it is the only local place I’ve found it. I use the flake.

[goldenrow]

The Mag Chlor has worked great in my all sand 11,520 sq ft arena. I put 25 bags on the first application, and follow up with about 15 each Fall. I water it once in the Spring, and it gets through until the next Fall. I get a little more humidity than you do, but if you can cut your watering down to even once a month, that might be an improvement.

I have been very happy with it.

[Forte]

I used MAG in my sand indoor arena as well and I love it. My indoor is a regulation size dressage ring. The manufacturer recommended I put in 40 bags but I started with 12 and I found it worked very well. Since then I just top it up about 6 bags per year with excellent results. I find it a very cheap and effective way of dust control .

[skyy]

In order for Mag Chlor to work, you have to live in a climate that has a decent amount of humidity in the air as the Mag pulls the water from the air and binds it to the sand. We use Mag in our indoor and during the winter if it’s wicked cold and dry, it will start to get a little dusty. July can be the same way if we’ve had no rain for a while. Overall, however, it works great here in SE PA.

[pluvinel]

Because of the low humidity in NV you might need to use a product like HydroKeep
http://dressagearena.net/pages/hydrokeep.html

[Egioja]

[QUOTE=pluvinel;8502544]
Because of the low humidity in NV you might need to use a product like HydroKeep
http://dressagearena.net/pages/hydrokeep.html[/QUOTE]

I’m reading up on this now-it looks like its designed not to eliminate watering, but to reduce it drastically-which would still work well for our needs. Also, their website has me seriously drooling over the many footing additives!

[SmartAlex]

We’ve used the MAG flakes and they work. They pull moisture right out of the air. Truly cool scientific barn help Don’t worry about over ordering. You will probably want some left over to touch up later, and it’s easier to just get them all at once and keep some in reserve.

[mjs8]

We’re in the northeast and using MAG Flakes. LOVE the product. Our ring is 60x110 or so, sand + rubber shred mix. We ordered from Emerson Products and followed his advice to the letter on how to apply. I believe we put 24 bags in our initial application, 3 years ago. We have not had to apply any product since, the arena has held up beautifully, and we’re thrilled with the results!

[Mag_Guy]

Thanks for the kind words mjs8! MAG Flakes will work effectively on almost all footings. Never water. If you’re getting dust, apply a few more bags. Most failures of MAG Flakes for dust control are due to under application.

MAG Flakes are working for dust control in thousands of indoor arenas. StopArenaDust.com