Wet school - how wet is too wet?

[Gina789]

I just wanted everyones thoughts.

We have a sand school (moved to a yard with one in July) I'm really careful not to use it when its rained. If it's damp but not sticky or slippy I will use it.

But have always had it drummed into me that a wet school can cause a tendon to pull.

But I also remember turning up for riding lessons when I was little in all weathers being expected to walk trot and canter on it.

Other liverys have used the sandschool today and yesterday despite it absolutely pouring and water litterally sitting in puddles all over the place.

Am I being over cautious. How wet would you think is too wet (hard to explain I know)

But damp ok?

Some small puddles/collections of water ok?

[Happy Hacker 01]

I tend to prefer not to use it if it's too wet & boggy (ours is woodchips) in case the horse slips, or as you say, pulls a tendon.

I went in yesterday though for around 20 mins after the 3 day storm we've just had!! Would rather not have done, but horses were being kept in due to the weather, and Shads had not been ridden since the weekend. Couldn't hack out as too dark after work.

I just tried to keep to the driest part and only had a very short canter. :)

[newforest]

I use all weathers, i'm barefoot.
I also use when there are numerous puddles on it.

The main time i would not use is if it's been so wet it's actually under water or washed away completely. We are wet where i am.

Not sure on whether i'd use if icy not experienced that day yet.

[Kc Mac]

Personally if there were puddles collecting then that would be too wet for me. Sand drains well and usually better to ride on when damp or wet enough to make it 'spongy'

Some sand schools have the 'leaky pipes' system so the sand is always damp and makes a fantastic surface to ride on. The college i attended had this system.

In fact i get more concerned when the sand is dry!:o :)

[newforest]

what about riding on a wet bark surface, what are people's thoughts on this.

i do have area to use that is this and it's a bit spongy to be honest and i normally only trot on it.

[melmo1313]

I will ride in a wet school at the 'drier' part and tend not to canter on it. However, our sand school looked more like a lake at the weekend so unsurprisingly I elected for a hack down the road instead to stretch his legs!

[Claire1605]

I have silica sand in my menage and the surface is perfect to ride on when it has rained.

I think my horses are more likley to damage something when the sand is too dry as they tend to sink in too much and you can feel how much like hard work it is for them.

The sand is a lot more stable when wet.

If it has been raining, I smile as I know we are going to be riding on a good surface.

All three of mine have been fine riding on wet sand.

Although, I am lucky that my drainage is fantastic so there are never any puddles or too soaked.

[Trewsers]

When I was on one yard I certainly didn't do anything more than walk in the outdoor school, cos it used to flood quite badly and not only that, but if it had rained hard the bark and sand just used to be lumpy and mushy. I was advised not to do much more than walk, I did however try trotting and cantering once, but to no avail. My horse was having none of it and refused to do more than walk (she must have known it wouldn't do her legs any good). BUT, I have to say, this particular school was pretty rubbishy and non of the other liveries used it either in bad weather. I shouldn't think a few small puddles would do much harm.

[shanzee]

Our school is rubber and sand and has been very wet this week, and I haven't ridden in it, although most of the other liveries have. the only reason I won't ride on it is because in very wet weather tia develops a deep crack in the cleft of her frogs, and sand getting in makes her lame. If there wasn't any sand in the school I would still use it.