diy arena - help please

[TammyMad]

Has anyone made their own all weather riding arena? I have very muddy paddock that I want to turn into arena as cheaply as possible! Do I need to dig out 1 foot then put hardcore, then membrane, then silica sand, then topping of rubber chippings which will cost thousands or has anyone experimented and can give me some tips?

[CMR]

I'd put in some sort of drainage pipes because if it's muddy now then it probably doesn't drain correctly. All I did for my "arena" is plow up the dirt, make sure it was even, and then drag it. I wouldn't put rubber chipping on because unless it is going to be covered, you won't be able to ride in it if it's at all wet. The stuff is really slippery(at least it is over here).

[ponylover88]

whats you soil made of, clay or sand?
ours is sand, and before we had a proper menage put in, we had a 20 x 40 paddock and we used it for schooling in, it started going a bit sandy, but didnt have the drainage to stay clear.

[Karli Farasi]

Hello, I am currently building my own arena as i can not afford 15k plus for someone else to build it! We have heavy clay soil so it has been positioned in the corner of our field so the drains run into the ditch. There is so much to consider and it is a massive job! In total we think it will cost 5k for us to do it ourselves, for a 20m x 40 m. That includes ground work, drainage stone (do not use hardcore!), membrane, drains, silica sand and a rubber surface. Oh and not forgetting the fencing, gate and dressage letters. Be careful about materials the cheaper option may cost more in the long run!

[TammyMad]

Thanks, we also have clay soil but one decent paddock between the ditch and my mud bath! I was told when we bought house that there is drainage in bottom paddock which would explain why it is still ok. Why can we not use hard core if it is just to aid drainage? does it damage membrane or something? Does anyone still use wood chip/shavings any more? how long do they last? We're probably only going to be here for a couple of years so don't need anything with 10 year life span for example.

[Jacquie]

Thanks, we also have clay soil but one decent paddock between the ditch and my mud bath! I was told when we bought house that there is drainage in bottom paddock which would explain why it is still ok. Why can we not use hard core if it is just to aid drainage? does it damage membrane or something? Does anyone still use wood chip/shavings any more? how long do they last? We're probably only going to be here for a couple of years so don't need anything with 10 year life span for example.
Our round pen was constructed on heavy clay soil. The drainage was laid herringbone fashion and good quality hard core was used for the sub-base topped with a good layer of fine washed stone. Membrane was then laid between the stone and woodfibre riding surface, (we opted for woodfibre because although more expensive than sand/rubber it is eco friendly and the new landfill regulations doesn't apply to it).

Like all surfaces, it took some time to settle. We used to have to take the roller over it every time it had been used but now we only have to roll it once a week.

There's more info on the company we had our woodfibre from - I can highly recommend them. :)
link:
http://www.ransfords.co.uk/equine.htm

[de_Stille_een]

Hmm... I don't know. And while I don't know about the slippery-ness of shredded tires (I assume they're the same as the rubber chippings), but I have been in indoor arenas with the rubber footing, and let me tell you- that is the most amazing footing I've ever stepped on. The next time I take a tumble, I'll be praying the whole way down that I hit some rubber- it is very cushioning and very low-imact. I like! :)

[Jessey]

My friend just did hers, they dug a couple of ditches and filled them with stone and had them running into a big irrigation sitch thats next to their property, they then leveled it and got bark shavings (apparently better than bark chip) in all I think it cost about £500 for someone to do the drains (would have been pretty easy to do themselves but they are both very busy) and £250 for the surface (theirs is about 20x20 meters), and it really nice, that paddock was so muddy and boggy before but now its really good.

J x

[Karli Farasi]

We were advised not to use hardcore as it can rip the membrane, dent and clog up the drains. However, if your only putting it in to boost the price of your property, i would just put in something very basic and cheap! A friend of mine did hers for 1k. She put in the drains etc.. but used hardcore and builders sand. It really depends what you want out of it!

[Jacquie]

We were advised not to use hardcore as it can rip the membrane, dent and clog up the drains.
Your absolutely right, hardcore can do these things if smaller stone isn't also used. On professional advice we had a good layer of washed stone laid under and around our drainage pipes and in between the hardcore and membrane to avoid the possibility of these thing happening.

We had a quote of £7,500.00 to construct a 50' roundpen (including fencing retaining boards and a gate). We used exactly the same materiels as on the itemised quote but did most the work ourselves (apart from the excavation) and the cost came down to around £2,800.00. :)

[HorseManiac]

Our stable uses woodchips - free and easy!!:D :D try looking in the yellow pages.

[TammyMad]

Thanks for all the info. I think it's going to be something I go ahead with quite soon )we'll be eating beans on toast but hey who cares!!!) Jessey, we're only just over the Norfolk border into Lincs do you know name of supplier your friend used for hers?

[roan rebel]

I thought you needed planning permission for a sandschool??

[atillathefun]

We built a school ourselves a couple of years ago and my instructor said she has never seen such a dry school :) (was a muddy wet good for nothing field before!)
We dug some trenches accross the area and filled them with hard core, they run diaganally accross and one long one down the side to take the water away. We then laid hardcore accross the whole of the base and then rolled road chippings on top of it to form a solid base (we have got metal things around the sides I think they are RSJ's (we did look into railway sleepers but they were very expensive) ). If you raise the base rather than dig down into the ground you will automatically get better drainage and you dont need planning permission. You do however need planning permision if you want to fence it or put lights up (check this as it was a couple of years ago that we got our permission).
If there is anything in particular you want to know let me know and I will try to answer

[Pickles]

I think the planning issue depends on the current use of the field, e.g. you are allowed to graze horses on agricultural land but you are not allowed to ride them on it, you would need to ask for change of use (technically).

I know if I were spending a fortune on a schooling area I'd make damn sure first as planners can ask to you put things back if you don;t have the necessary permission.