Using arena as temporary sacrifice area

[eponacelt]

We’ve been on our farm for a few years now, and building a proper sacrifice area is hopefully in the cards for this summer. That said, I don’t have one right now, and this is the time of year that I don’t want to put my horses on the two fields they are off of for the whole winter, and their winter pasture (a little over an acre) is somewhat bare and slick from the rain we’re having.

But I do have a nice, large, well fenced bluestone riding arena.

Thoughts on whether I’m killing my arena or doing some sort of harm to my horses if I throw some hay and water buckets in the arena to give them a chance to get out for a bit while their winter field dries out?

[Jumper_girl221]

Depends how long you will have them in there. You will need to scoop out the manure and every scrap of hay or it will trash the arena footing. The horses running around might dig up the base as well.

I’ve done it for a few hours here and there and my husband hates it (he’s the one that’s picky about the ring footing lol).

[merrygoround]

The running around is not nearly as devastating to an arena as the digging and rolling. The later can completely destroy the base.
.

[Jumper_girl221]

[QUOTE=merrygoround;8075592]
The running around is not nearly as devastating to an arena as the digging and rolling. The later can completely destroy the base.
.[/QUOTE]

True, more the digging vs. the rolling. I’m referring though to the entire herd galloping full tilt, hitting a corner and doing the sliding stop/rollback, then rinse and repeat. That is what really trashes my ring…and in the winter when they are dry lotted they really do enjoy burning off some steam and tearing my ring to shreds.

[horsepoor]

Depends too how much $ and effort went into building that arena. I can guarantee that mine will never be used for turnout. I can ride and lunge without anyone digging into the base, but just having a horse loose in there (not deliberate…got away from me) for a few minutes, I will find divots all the way into the base. And knowing their propensity for digging, nope, not going to do it. Plus I go to great effort to limit the organics that get into my footing (manure picked up immediately, feet cleaned prior to going in, mowing and weed eating in a way the grass goes another direction, blowing leaves off in the fall, …).

Others have different footing and bases that might stand up to the wear and tear better, or not mind the base being pulled up or the footing degraded, but it won’t happen here until enough years go by that I’ve forgotten writing that check for the arena in the first place.:lol:

[Jim_in_PA]

Our outdoor arenas are often used for turnout during the winter or during certain other times when the regular turnouts are just not a good choice for safety or other reasons. (The indoor, too, in really bad winter weather) The only issues I’ve seen are occasional gnawing on jumps, so I’d suggest they be pulled out.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=Jim_in_PA;8075955]
Our outdoor arenas are often used for turnout during the winter or during certain other times when the regular turnouts are just not a good choice for safety or other reasons. (The indoor, too, in really bad winter weather) The only issues I’ve seen are occasional gnawing on jumps, so I’d suggest they be pulled out.[/QUOTE]

“occasional gnawing on jumps”

LOL, you got off easy.

I more then suggest pulling the jumps. Got that T-shirt and it was an expensive one.

[Plumcreek]

I put my old leaking metal water troughs to use as hay feeders when I keep horses out for the day in the arena. Safer than eating on the sand and limits hay on the footing.

Jumps? Cat toys for horses.

[eponacelt]

Thanks all. I did put them out in the ring for a few hours yesterday, and it was fine, but I don’t think its a good long term solution or a good idea for more than two hours or so. That said, I may start putting my pony in there every so often to eat the grass along the fence line. I saw him going to town and thought “There’s my solution to the much dreaded spraying and weed eating!”

[JBD]

I have a horse that needs to be dry lotted and have been using my arena for that. Yuk! It has caused problems and one of the things on my list this year is to set up a separate dry lot.

[Flash44]

I did it one year, and the hay and manure made for some slick spots in the ring.

[PeanutButterPony]

Urine makes for slick spots esp in gravel arenas

[judybigredpony]

I stopped using my ring because they ate the silk flowers and chewed the jumps up…But I do use the Bluestone loose school…they knock the jumps down play with the barrels…1 horse at a time an I hang a canvas hay bag on the gate…so minimize and localize hay n poop clean up…