Hi. I’m building a round pen and I was wondering about sand. It needs to be good drainage wise (It rains quite a bit in the winter) but still has firm footing and good grip. Just your typical arena sand.
I was looking at a lot of different sand options in my area but I wanted a couple more opinions. Even you told me what kind of sand is in your arena and how it works for you would be a great help!
thanks
The answer is, “it depends”.
It depends what you will be doing there, just ground work, riding also, how often, how long.
Ours had and the new one will have regular orangey river sand over packed topsoil, not so much sand it is deep and hard to get around in there, but we don’t get much rain normally, yours may need a different sand.
The fellow here that takes care of so many footings for convention centers, fair grounds and all other kinds of large event facilities and their warm-up pens told me, for indoors, the finer double washed sand and keep it on the dry side, just watered enough to keep dust down, for most they do there but cutting, a bit deeper for that.
For outside arenas, he uses a larger grain, coarser sand, again not very deep for all but cutting, when he does put an extra 2" for more depth.
The finer sand that is really the best does tend to pack here too much outside with moisture and then as dry as fast as we get again.
Some of those indoor venues, he puts the footing down for horse events and then takes it out for other, like maybe ice hockey or basketball a day later.
Hope some of this can help you.
I prefer a concrete sand, masonry sand is also popular.
Start with 2" - it is easier to add more than it is to remove it if it is too deep, and especially in a small area like a round pen, too deep footing is dangerous and will cause soft tissue injuries.
I just researched sand recently for my own footing and angular or sub-angular sand is the best. Round sand particles – like sand at the beach – is not good. Rolls out from under hoof – poor traction.
