Removing rocks from Indoor Arena

[Xctrygirl]

We have recently moved to a new farm with 2 of my guys. It’s a lovely place with fabulous owners and such. They have an indoor that has had an issue with rocks in it from the original owner of the farm plowing into the ring years ago.

As such the ring has some small stones that can be pointed mixed in with the footing. The good news is that the owners were thrilled when I asked if I could try to find some solutions to improve/remove at least a majority of the stones. The stones in question are usually between 1" x 2" on up to 3" x 2". That’s the biggest I’ve seen. And it’s not awful. But it would be better if it was fixed.

I did try one method, but it didn’t work. They have a sifting shovel and I tried putting screen door material on it and shoveling and sifting. However my own fault, the screen was too fine so it caught EVERYTHING and didn’t sift well.

I was going to try again with a more open screen but I wanted to see first if anyone had ever experienced this or ever tried to solve something like this.

I have seen the dirt sifters but of course the biggest concern is not ruining the levelness of the footing in the process. Unless of course the process involved scraping the footing out and sifting it as a whole. But my point being that the footing has to be kept as uniform as possible.

The good news is that indoor is smaller (The usable section is 111’ x 68’)

So sure it’s a but load of work to do by hand, but might be doable with time.

Any ideas??

Emily

[BEARCAT]

I just use a plastic manure fork and do one area at a time.

https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/durafork-pitchfork-head-2031?utm_source=cpc&utm_medium=google&utm_content=shopping&utm_campaign=nb_shopping_tes&utm_term=12031

[gypsymare]

If you want to try the sifting route again make a frame out of 2x4s and line with hardware cloth of the size you want the rocks to filter out. A small one can be placed over a wheel barrow and shaken by hand. I have a 6x8 with a leg that holds it at an angle so that I can dump compost with the front end loader on the high side and the rocks roll down to the bottom. That one uses a wire fence type material to allow anything smaller than 1 inch to pass.

I really hope someone has a less labor intensive option for you!

[Xctrygirl]

Bearcat. It’s been tried. Doesn’t work well. It can grab some but more fall through.

Gypsy that’s what we thought of too. Might be headed that way.

Emily

[eastendjumper]

Try Bearcats strategy but with a fine-tine fork, something you would use for pellet bedding. I had gravel coming up into my footing and went through my arena scoop by scoop. Took 20 man hours (it was bad though) and got nearly all of the rocks out. I tried lots of approaches, just as you are, and this was by far the easiest and most effective.

[Scarlet_Gilia]

I personally cool out my horse on foot, carry a small bucket, and pick up rocks during our walk.

Here are a few other ideas:

I think maybe a small potato digger would help get the rocks up to the surface for easier removal, but I’m not sure how common that implement is if you’re not in Idaho!

Use a York rake to move the rocks into piles. Then maybe use something like a Lee Valley Rock Rake to remove them. That looks like a lot of work!

Rent a skid steer with a rock bucket.

[Xctrygirl]

Ok just to give everyone a better sense of things here are some pictures.

We have used a pitchfork. The owners have done that often for years and that’s why it’s better now. This is looking for some sort of larger scale method.

The rock bucket would be overkill. The openings on the ones I have seen online are far too wide.

Here are some pics so you can see:

http://s103.photobucket.com/user/Xctrygirl/library/Indoor%20Arena%202017?sort=3&page=1

~Emily

[DressageLin]

No idea of feasibility, but the Underfoot USDF booklet mentioned that you may be able to rent a rock picker from a golfcourse. This got my attention because we have major rock problems in the outdoor arena where I board. My husband mentioned that an equipment rental store may have a similar attachment for a tractor. Again, no idea if any of this is true, but may be worth investigating.

[StormyDay]

I also tried a the pitchfork idea and it doesn’t work, both fine tines and normal. I have had great success with getting some Chicken wire in the size I wanted (3/4 inch for my rocks) and securing it over a large plastic feed tub. Then I shoveled in the footing and shook the chicken wire around.
It removed the rocks well and went a lot faster than picking by hand.
Another option is paying children per rock, but I don’t know any small children to do that.

[gypsymare]

Look up a Rock Hound. You may be able to rent one. I’ve been considering it for my sacrifice paddock where I ride… way too many rocks.

[paintedpony]

There is machinery available that will make fast work of removing all rocks, leaving beautiful silky footing. I would estimate an area of your size would take a couple of hours.

Do a Google search of arena rock removal to see a few great videos, then start posting to your local Facebook groups. I am confident you will be able to locate a local service/contractor.

[Xctrygirl]

OOOOOoooo Gypsy thanks!!!

I found one for rent locally and I sent the manufacturer a few questions to see if they think it would work.

Em

[SonnysMom]

DressageLin- my father was a greens superintendent at 2 different golf courses for many years. I worked at both until I was 20 years old. Yes, that was 25 years ago but I have never heard of a rock picker on a golf course. I wonder what they are referring to.

[gumtree]

Pretty sure “Rock Hound” is only offered as a skid loader attachment. So it will cost $$$ to rent both. About $300+ for the skid loader alone.

Plus there is a there is a learning curve. A beginner operator might tear up things. Do more damage than good.

To manually do it I took some chicken wire which has 1/2 square holes. Cut it to size to fit over a shavings fork. Attached with small zip ties. Or for a wider screen, attach two 2’ thin wood slats to a metal pitch fork and attach the chicken wire to that. Works well enough but will take a while to do in a big space. Scope and shake/shift the sand out and dump the rocks in a wheel barrel

Pay somebody $10 an hour. $80 is a lot cheaper than the cost of renting something. Your husband might need the money.

But skid loaders are fun to run.

This was one of my farm jobs and my siblings as wee kids. But with our little hands and our little buckets.

[Xctrygirl]

Farm where this is at has a skid loader. $159 for a day rental and they’re person doing the labor and paying the rental cost is cheaper.

Emily

[Bluey]

I think that you will never get rid of the rocks unless you change the footing.
Those rocks will keep showing up again and again.

We had that problem, the fellow that put the first footing down lied and buried some rocky dirt he was supposed to move to the side in the arena.

We tried all kind of stuff, a line of people with rakes took buckets full.
Next time we worked the arena, more rocks came up.

Finally took that dirt out and put clean put, watered and packed in layers, then the right kind of sand on top of it and it is wonderful footing now and no more rocks.

The problem is not to get the rocks that show up out of there, is that more rocks keep showing up all along.
Those rocks seem to breed like rabbits.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;9025489]
Farm where this is at has a skid loader. $159 for a day rental and they’re person doing the labor and paying the rental cost is cheaper.

Emily[/QUOTE]

Well, if you had provided that information I would have given you a link for what can be rented.

What’s up with the gravel at the entrance? Is this what you are trying to get rid of?

[Xctrygirl]

No. The gravel at the entrance was their solution for repeated standing water.

I think those stones could be elemental involved if horses walk over them and care some in their shoes. But otherwise no they’re just there to stop the water.

Em

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;9025859]
No. The gravel at the entrance was their solution for repeated standing water.

I think those stones could be elemental involved if horses walk over them and care some in their shoes. But otherwise no they’re just there to stop the water.

Em[/QUOTE]

“I think those stones could be elemental involved if horses walk over them and care some in their shoes”

Exactly what I was thinking. Don’t know what equipment is being used to drag. Stones getting picked up in the tire treads when driving over?

Stones coming up from the base in an indoor would be kind of rare. Not subjected to water, freeze/thaw which can “push” them up. Use of an aggressive drag, dragging too deep, etc.

[Xctrygirl]

Thank you but fyi this post is 5 yrs old and I don’t board there anymore.

Also…the owners didn’t want to have any efforts done to remove any of the rocks. We offered to pay and do it ourselves, or hire a pro of their choosing. They said no on all fronts.

Em