At my house, we have a barn with our paddock in front of it, and a huge space behind. Behind the barn there’s 1/3 of an acre or so of rough rough clay. It looks like some heavy machinery must have trampled through it. It’s not possible to ride on it as it’s not flat enough. I’d like to get it flattened. Is this something that a fencing store would offer? Or do I need to hire a farmer? What exactly do I ask for? Is having it “flattened” the correct word? I’m hoping to use it as an arena for not extensive riding- just needs to be flat enough so she doesn’t fall on her little face. Thanks
I would hire an excavator with a bulldozer or possibly a skidsteer.
As someone with heavy clay, though, it’s not a great riding surface. When wet it is very slippery, and when dry it can be hard as concrete.
But, if it was flat you might be able to try it and see…so I’d start by calling an excavator.
Good advice. Clay can be wonderful for pastures, but does need LOTS of organic matter spread to make it into good soil, not pottery quality clay. Spreading bedding and discing it in lightly, then dragging smooth, will help the organic matter get worked into the clay particles, creating air spaces, eventually removing slip factor issues…
You probably should plan on some gravel and fill sand in layers, for the arena area, to improve the footing. Topping does not need to be deep, just a couple inches for horse to have good footing. Deep sand is hard on soft tissues, they will quickly get fatigued, injure something. You know running in deep beach sand is very tiring, no fun. Horse feels the same way! Most show arenas have footing way too deep, more likely to hurt than help the horse.
1 Like
You need the area “graded,” that is the proper term. Yes, call an excavator and explain what you’re looking for. The fencing store might be able to offer recommendations on someone to do the work.
1 Like
I’m just a “grasshopper” on all this stuff beins’ new to construction, arena base and footing design, etc BUT wouldn’t it seem if she wanted a place to ride on and it’s clay, that with a heavy roller (aka excavator with the RIGHT equipment) she could get that clay compacted and then put down screenings and then some sand? And that might be a pretty darn nice riding surface?
1 Like
It’s possible, but you would need to make a plan for drainage unless it’s a particularly dry area. My clay will hold water like a swimming pool, so my arena is very deep with gravel, geotextile cloth, stone dust, and sand. An alternative would be to crown the base and/or have a difference in elevation from one end to another, and/or french drains. It really depends.
If I just compacted my clay and put 3" of sand on it, it could be just a pool of water and sand after a hard rain, and it might not dry for a while.
Agree with S1969, compacted clay never drains. Compacting it makes pavement! Ha ha My clay dirt pastures keep the grazing going nicely during droughts, because the water is still there under the cracked surface. That added organic matter allows good root growth in the clay, to use the water.
We have open ditches along the arena to speed drainage, even with several layers of deep fill on the clay. We have a LOT of drain tile to move the water, so we are not standing in mud all the time. Clay dirt has advantages and issues, when you have horses on it.
Good point. Drainage is KEY to all things barns and arenas - no water wanted unless your “watering”. 
Very interesting everyone, thanks. It looks like I really need to consider drainage- and that’s not something I thought of at all.
Especially after the snow melts… don’t want a puddle until July haha
A good excavator will be able to grade the area so that it will drain properly. “French drains” as mentioned above might be part of the solution.
I’d advise finding at least two highly recommended excavating contractors that do large-area grading, not just roads, and get each of them to advise and to bid the job. The graded area may need to stabilize for a while before you use it. Again, your contractor will give you the best advice on that.
Good luck.
Well, what are you looking for?
A 3 season arena as some are suggesting will cost you quite a bit. You’ll need to have the area graded, packed, the right base added, packed, make sure it’s sloped so the water drains, and then footing added. It costs about $100 an hour here for one person labor (you might need two or three people), approx $400 for a load of base/sand.
Or you can get a tractor and a box grater and drive back and forth over it a bunch of times to even out the lumps and bumps, then drag it with a chain link fence and some bricks and call it a day.
It really depends on what’s there, what you want to do with it, and how much you want to spend.
Once you get it flattened with a box grater you can ride on it and see if you like it. Is it too hard? Too soft? Does it hold too much water? Which way does it drain? How often and how many horses do you want to ride in it? Then that will tell you how much more money you need to spend.
1 Like
