We are looking at alternatives for stone dust for an arena base. We are not near a quarry and it is expensive. I found an old thread on here about finely crushed recycled concrete as an alternative. Does anyone have any experience with this? Any other alternatives? Mid Atlantic east coast region. Thanks!
Crushed concrete dust can work just as well as stone dust, provided it’s installed correctly (just like any base of course.)
It’ll need to be spread out and compacted. You may however find that it breaks down faster, at least I’ve been told that by a few people who had it put down, it seemed to break down faster, but that’s also just an opinion.
I’d go with the crushed concrete, in my opinion it’ll last just as long provided it’s installed properly.
I have also seen crushed asphalt, but would likely avoid it, I’d be worried about the odor/ fumes it can give off when hot, even if it is under 4 inches of sand.
I’ve seen crushed concrete private roads and crushed asphalt and the crushed concrete seems to pack down better for some reason. Maybe that is just how this particular area is, or particular particles though? I’m not an expert, but it is something I would ask about.
I’ve rebuilt my driveway twice now. My crushed concrete drive is amazing vs. the gravel before. Much better compaction. But it’s only been in for about six months, so I can’t comment on the longevity. That is something I had not heard and I’m starting to think about arenas, so I’m glad you posted horseychick87!
Thanks for the replies 
Any ideas on the size we would need? The company I am using has done some nice rings here, but hasn’t used the concrete yet. He said they can crush to any size. I know the base is supposed to pack hard, but does the water shed off or go through the compacted base? We have clay under the topsoil. This is a low traffic private ring, but will be used for jumping so I don’t want the base shifting around 
I am thinking of a sand with rubber/textile mixed in for the footing.
[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;7857766]
I’ve seen crushed concrete private roads and crushed asphalt and the crushed concrete seems to pack down better for some reason. Maybe that is just how this particular area is, or particular particles though? I’m not an expert, but it is something I would ask about.[/QUOTE]
That’s because the asphalt has the rock coated in oil/tar, so it stays more granular. The concrete will continue to break down into dust with traffic.
Just be super careful. I got some of this, and in the fine print it said that there could be “debris” but they assured me that they screened it so nothing could get through larger than the fines, right? Until pieces of wire started showing up in my fields where I put it, and my horse came in from the field with a punctured sole. Over the course of months I have collected half a five gallon bucket of pieces of wire ranging from four to six inches, nails, etc. I took some back to the guy who sold it to me and he swears he can’t figure how it got in there but oh well, the disclaimer covers him. I have five truckloads of it just sitting on my farm that I was going to use as a base for my arena this fall, but I won’t put it anywhere a horse goes unless I rake it out by hand and run a magnet over it. So…be very careful. It has been a bit of a nightmare trying to rake out all the crap. Every 6 weeks or so, the fields seem to grow more.
I got some crushed asphalt after this debacle which was from a definitely clean source, and it has been fine. Less dusty too, which is super nice. though it does leave a bit of a black residue on feet and I don’t think it would be as nice in the deep South, I don’t know if the heat would cause it to…melt? it can get sticky when it is over 100 which it rarely is here. I can’t decide whether the stones in it are too big for arena footing or not, I use it in paddocks.
Now, I used the recycled concrete for four years before I got this problem load and was perfectly happy with it. But now I am very, very disenchanted…for obvious reasons. If your source is OK, it will be fine. But if not, you could end up with a very expensive sand pile for your kids, which is what I currently have. On the bright side, we held my son’s birthday party on the sand pile – he loves playing on it. So in the long run, it was probably discounted by the “not going to some horrible and expensive Chuck E Cheese like-place” experience…so, perhaps it’s not been totally un-useful. I am still contemplating how I am going to get rid of it.
I’m betting you got a load that wasn’t ran through a metal detector. Concrete will have wire in it because they pour it onto rebar and wire to stablize it. Asphalt generally won’t because they just lay it as-is.
You’re welcome.
Yeah the crushed concrete should be about the same size as you’d get for stone dust if you’re using it as a base. You’ll want it thoroughly compacted and then add your footing on top of it.
I’d never recommend it as footing alone as it will break down and blow away pretty quickly, but if it’s under 3-4 inches of footing it should last longer. As said it should be as close to the same size as you would get for stone dust, make sure it’s been screened foe metal and install it the same way a stone dust base would be installed.
Fordtraktor: I really wouldn’t recommend the crushed asphalt down here, especially if it were to be used as footing alone, it’s far to hot here for it and it could give off fumes, and the oils can break down fairly fast.
Another thing, keep in mind that rubber footing migrates and finds its way out of the arena, so you’ll wind up having to replace it regularly unless you put a catch board system in, this would also help keep the footing in place in general and reduce costs on having to put in new truckloads of footing as often.
Quick question about it breaking down. Do you mean the base will break apart? I’m guessing the footing will take most of the dragging, wind, horse traffic abuse, so just wondering what happens when the concrete “breaks down”? Thanks again!
I would imagine by breaking down it would be coming loose and mixing into the footing and/or the soil underneath. But I don’t have any experience with it, so I may be wrong.
[QUOTE=Mosey_2003;7859051]
I’m betting you got a load that wasn’t ran through a metal detector. Concrete will have wire in it because they pour it onto rebar and wire to stablize it. Asphalt generally won’t because they just lay it as-is.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I am just saying to be careful, because I was assured that it WAS screened for metal and the many loads I purchased before from the same place had been. But this one was clearly not due to some mistake or problem with the screen, and due to the fine print in the contract I have spent $600 in vet bills for a punctured sole, and have $1,200 in useless sand just sitting on my farm they won’t take back, in addition to the I can’t tell you how many hours of raking I’ve spent and paid my helper to spend getting metal shards out of the fields. So…just telling people to be very careful in dealing with this kind of product or you can find yourself learning a very hard lesson. Ask a lot of questions and go inspect it carefully. It sucks because it is very affordable and otherwise a great product. If I can find a more reliable source I will use it again.
[QUOTE=c.harrison1;7862603]
Quick question about it breaking down. Do you mean the base will break apart? I’m guessing the footing will take most of the dragging, wind, horse traffic abuse, so just wondering what happens when the concrete “breaks down”? Thanks again![/QUOTE]
No, I mean if you use it as footing alone it could break down into very fine dust as it wouldn’t be compacted for use as footing (top layer), and blow/ shift away over time.
If you use it as a base, then you’d have it compacted down and it likely would not be a problem, if installed as a base it will work the same as regular stone dust, as footing it’s not very good.
[QUOTE=fordtraktor;7863554]
Yes, I am just saying to be careful, because I was assured that it WAS screened for metal and the many loads I purchased before from the same place had been. But this one was clearly not due to some mistake or problem with the screen, and due to the fine print in the contract I have spent $600 in vet bills for a punctured sole, and have $1,200 in useless sand just sitting on my farm they won’t take back, in addition to the I can’t tell you how many hours of raking I’ve spent and paid my helper to spend getting metal shards out of the fields. So…just telling people to be very careful in dealing with this kind of product or you can find yourself learning a very hard lesson. Ask a lot of questions and go inspect it carefully. It sucks because it is very affordable and otherwise a great product. If I can find a more reliable source I will use it again.[/QUOTE]
Oh I know I was just adding in case others didn’t know why.
Can you put it on Craigslist? People will come get anything…
I am thinking of putting it eventually under my arena base buried deep under other footing when I redo the whole thing and putting geotextile fabric over it so the metal can’t work its way up. But that will have to wait on more $$$! For now, there it sits. I might also. use it for a trailer pad or a path between barn and house where horses don’t go… I have a few options that don’t involve horse traffic. I just don’t want to put it ever where a horse might get to it! Hate to throw it away and it is sort of inventing work so sitting on a back burner until I decide. It is useless in that I don’t really need any of those things and wouldn’t do them if I didn’t have this sand.
Sorry fordtraktor! Thanks for the heads up! I hope you find a good use for it
