Okay, we need something more than our 4x4 harrow that we pull with our ATV…I’ve piled all sorts of things on it and it just doesn’t get deep enough PLUS I need to level the arena.
Sooo…I don’t want to spend $1500+ for a brand new ArenaDragon or TR3…wondering if there are any places that sell them used? Craigslist is a REAL long shot…
Any more reasonable brands that I am missing?
Well, for $1500 dollars I have a couple ideas. First would be to get a second section of the chain harrow to add on behind the first piece. You get MORE drag time with more teeth, so it should work up the sand topping better. You could also get a WIDER piece of pipe, put the two pieces side by side to drag.
I put tires on my chain drag when I need teeth biting down. I have to tie the front of tires on, use two layers across sideways. Maybe one implement tire, because tractor tires for smaller tractors usually don’t weigh enough. Several truck tires do a good job for me, easier to handle than large single tire.
However, getting the weight of drag up for good bite, might be a bit heavy for your dragging machine. Farm sales around here, often have spike drags, adjustable spring tooth drags, maybe 4ft by 6ft, used with the old small tractors. They do have a LOT of drag effect, can make heavy pulling for small machines.
You could advertise wanting one in the paper, Craigslist, see if you get any calls. They are adjustable in depth, but are in the way anytime you are not using them! I kept a piece of old plywood over the top during storage times, in case a loose horse got close and could not step in it. If you do set them very deeply, you can mix your arena footing layers, end up with mud. Should be cheap if you do find one.
We have a leveling device, homemade and donated to the 4-H arena. It is about 8ft wide and 12 or 14ft long, made of heavy 2 or 3 inch round steel bars. The frame has several 8ft cross bars in the center, about 2ft apart. You put a rope or chain on the narrow end, and just drag it around the arena, and it is super at leveling out the surface. Each crossbar is smoothing dirt, with the 12-14ft length preventing drag going up and down in holes or wet places like smaller drags do. So the first couple rounds drag will fill in holes, then just disturb the surface dirt for a cushion effect. Dirt over the bars looks like little snow plows flying along. Never saw anything like it, but it sure does a great job both leveling and smoothing a hard used ring nicely. That arena does speed classes, reining, pleasure, jumping, so some spots are hard used, would need lots of work to get back level if you didn’t have this special drag.
You could have one built at a local welding shop for yourself. Drag does need longer length for staying flat as you drag, spanning low spots and not digging in. The ATV should be able to manage it without problems. Two of us moms easily pulled this drag into place for hitching to a truck, lifted it for moving without a problem. Drag is solid but it wasn’t that heavy.
So a several ideas, should keep you within budget and able to use the ATV.
ABI Equine (distributor for TR3, Arena Rascal, Kieser Edge, etc) sometimes will have used arena equipment come up for sale. Have you checked the Arena Rascal for the UTV/ATV’s on their site? They just had a free shipping deal for the month of February.
Sent you a pm.
I got one of these last year and I love it; I have a dense sand over stonedust and when it’s really dry my york rake would just skip over the top:
http://www.wikco.com/arena.html
$415 for either the 3-pt hitch or the ATV model. We have the 3-pt one but they look very similar. It’s really heavy and drags deeply. You may have to worry about going too deep depending on your arena; but if you have at least 4-5 inches it shouldn’t be a problem.
Take a look at these
http://www.countrymfg.com/rotaryconditioner.htm
we actually have one, the RC-6, that we are not using any longer - went to a more heavy duty machine since ours works harder. Need to find it a new home!
You can’t beat Country Mfg products, price or service, IMHO.
S1969, does that arena ripper really dig in? The price is certainly right.
I’m also in NY and my outdoor ring is concrete sand…well, it is literally like concrete right now, and my spider rotary groomer just goes over top of it. I need something that will really break it up, even if I have to water it first.
I think it’s pretty effective, but obviously it has no rotary action, so it is limited. (In fact, last year I was able to borrow a rototiller to unpack the arena after the winter snow, which was awesome). But, for basic riding, I do like it. The teeth have a depth of up to 4" and I weight mine with concrete blocks just so it doesn’t bounce around. The teeth do wear down, though. I am getting ready to buy a new set because after a couple of years they are only about 2" deep.
I’d love a $1500 drag, but can’t justify it. My ring is small and we don’t really jump, so it’s good enough for me. Sometimes it needs to be dragged more than once – e.g. in two different directions – to break it up if it’s really packed.
Here’s a picture…doesn’t help much…but you can see the drag marks…
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/39918_1455152790515_142781_n.jpg
Actually, just found this from when it was brand new (and you can see it on my tractor in the background)…boy I do need new teeth!
How about a railroad tie with 1-2 rows of 18-20" screws every 4-6 inches? Not fancy but it may do the trick!
[QUOTE=S1969;4727637]
I got one of these last year and I love it; I have a dense sand over stonedust and when it’s really dry my york rake would just skip over the top:
http://www.wikco.com/arena.html
$415 for either the 3-pt hitch or the ATV model. We have the 3-pt one but they look very similar. It’s really heavy and drags deeply. You may have to worry about going too deep depending on your arena; but if you have at least 4-5 inches it shouldn’t be a problem.[/QUOTE]
I hope spotmenow doesn’t mind if I ask some tagalong questions! 
Does this drag have the ability to tip such that the last thing going over the footing smooths it out?
It says “7 - X3 teeth (1/2” thick) that extend to 4" cutting depth" - does that mean up to 4", or is it 4" period? I couldn’t at all use something that always and only digs to 4" - too deep 
But if it can reduce down to 1-2", that would be perfect.
I too am on the hunt for something with a 3pt hitch connection so I can 1) get into my corners, and 2) lift up to stop dragging footing out of the ring, and stop dragging outside material into the ring, all of which are issues with my chain drag But $1500 isn’t happening!
We recently got a roto harrow and it is amazing. We had waves in our arena and it fixed them in the first session. We were using a normal drag before and it did nothing.
We acquired it from my SOs father so I have no clue how much it costs but you can submit a quote request on their website or look for a used one
[QUOTE=JB;6443234]
I hope spotmenow doesn’t mind if I ask some tagalong questions!
Does this drag have the ability to tip such that the last thing going over the footing smooths it out? [/QUOTE]
I think no…but I suppose you could mount it in a way that might help. Basically mine is mounted so that the front edge is parallel to the ground, and the teeth angle toward the tractor…so you always end up with drag marks. But it does smooth out lumps with the leading edge – e.g. if you had a “pile” of footing, it would drag it foward and cut into it. Does that make sense?
I can drag with my hitch all the way down, or lifted up. So I can lift it to a shallower dragging depth. I would imagine you can’t do that with the ATV model, though. It is adjustable to the extent your 3pt hitch is adjustable. And the tines can be flipped around, so if they get dull on one side you can reverse them and use the other side before you have to buy new ones.
I hear you. I am sure this drag is not perfect but it works for me (for the price). I also have a york rake, which I loved when I had stone dust only as a footing, because it could cut through the footing and leave it in place. But with a sand mixture that is more dense, it would drag the footing along with it. I also have a chain harrow, and I admit that I do love the way it leaves the arena looking (nice and smooth), but I have the exact same problem - I drag grass & weeds into the arena when I bring it in.
So far I am satisfied with this drag - it is cheap, no moving parts to break, and is very small so you can get into corners pretty easily. I’d love a rotary harrow but can’t justify the expense.
Take a look at the EZ groomer, we got the ATV type and we have a small 360 honda rancher ATV. We were kind of sceptical,but the salesman for them was very helpfull. Once we tried it we loved it. Now I groom the arena all the time instead of bothering my husband all the time to take off whatever he has on the tractor to groom for me. He said it was the greatest thing since pockets on shirt.
You posted this awhile ago but do you still have this drag? Could you send a picture? Looking to get one for our arena as we are hosting our first barrel show in June.
[QUOTE=JB;6443234]
I too am on the hunt for something with a 3pt hitch connection so I can 1) get into my corners, and 2) lift up to stop dragging footing out of the ring, and stop dragging outside material into the ring, all of which are issues with my chain drag But $1500 isn’t happening![/QUOTE]
I’m sure JB has found something by now, 4 years later, but in case anybody else finds this thread and has the same problem, I use a 3-point attachment to lift my chain harrow. Then you can get into corners and you aren’t damaging the ground outside the arena or dragging footing out and other things in. It’s $350-500, depending on the size of your harrow, here: https://www.neatfarms.com/3-Pt--Chain-Harrows/3-Point-Chain-Harrow-Lifts-Only/2/157. Their website doesn’t look super professional but I had no problems purchasing from them (my arena builder recommended it). Much more affordable than most other upgrades!
I actually still don’t have anything new :lol: I’ve thought about that attachment/lift. My issue at this point is I think I need something that will scrap just under the top to help loosen things a bit. But I’m not 100% on that either, so… shrug
http://www.rotoharrow.com/dragster.htm - this is what I use. WAY less then one of the fancy harrows, and no need for a lift. It you need to pack the arena, you flip it to the flat side, if you need to fluff (or break up clots) flip it to the teeth side.
I went through several more expensive harrows and without a dedicated tractor JUST for the harrow, they just don’t work. I’ve had my dragster now for over 10 years and love it.
I bought a used/reconditioned harrow from a couple who own an arena building business here in the NW, Arena Rehab, LLC. They frequently post used harrows for sale on their FB page. Perhaps finding a similar company would yield similar results.
I have a used arena rascal - too much for my ring if anyone is interested. Located in NC. Bought it used, used it once, to heavy for my little operation.
What size is your rascal, and how much are you asking for it?
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