How soft should an arena be?

KZWestern · 07-20-2005, 10:24 AM

I was just curious what the limit to softness in an arena should be? My arena is pretty soft. It's made out of finer sand instead of the more typical redish gravely sand and I'm a little worried it might be too soft. It's really hard to explain exactly how soft arena footing is... so I'll give it my best shot.

It is not soft enough to be hard to walk through, but it's more difficult to walk in than the averadge arena. My feet leave prints and I always sink maybe an inch or a little less. The sand is very fine, more like beach sand. Isis doesn't seem to have a problem either when I'm working with her on the ground or riding her, but I'm still concerned it might strain her tendons eventually.

I hope this is a decent explenation, I wish you guys could just be here to look at it!!

cassidy · 07-20-2005, 10:30 AM

soft is fine as long as its deep enough!
i actually find alot os arenas hard lol not really for the horse but to land on

Shotgun93 · 07-20-2005, 10:30 AM

Beach sand is really great for arenas, it isn't too soft, but also it doesn't get hard very easily. It works up really well and tends to get compacted enough about an inch or so down to make a good landing for jumping and trotting and cantering.
That being said, are sure you sink down close to an inch? If that's the case, then it might be too soft - if you sink down an inch, a 1200 pound animal will sink futher. I would water it and work it a bunch, that should help get a good base.

zorse · 07-20-2005, 10:40 AM

I thought beach sand was too fine because if you're turning sharp corners the horse won't be able to grab on and will fall over??

cassidy · 07-20-2005, 10:42 AM

she has said though its like beach sand but it may not be?

Shotgun93 · 07-20-2005, 10:45 AM

We have beach sand in all of our arenas and we have never had a problem with horses falling. It's best to keep it well watered and worked though, which I think helps create more friction.

zorse · 07-20-2005, 10:49 AM

Ah, interesting. I just always heard that so we got a firmer sand when we built our arena.

Asfaloth · 07-20-2005, 11:46 AM

KZ your arena sounds like mine and it is just about perfect. As long as it is kept worked and watered it is a great riding surface and we do all sorts of events and disciplines in it with no one having a problem.

EventingBandit4 · 07-20-2005, 01:27 PM

You want it soft, but not so soft that's there's not enough form for the horse's footing. Example, you don't want their fett sinking in and them having a struggle to move...kinda of like a human trying to run in sand piles...

07-20-2005, 10:24 AM	#1
KZWestern Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 3,648 Images: 35	How soft should an arena be? I was just curious what the limit to softness in an arena should be? My arena is pretty soft. It's made out of finer sand instead of the more typical redish gravely sand and I'm a little worried it might be too soft. It's really hard to explain exactly how soft arena footing is... so I'll give it my best shot. It is not soft enough to be hard to walk through, but it's more difficult to walk in than the averadge arena. My feet leave prints and I always sink maybe an inch or a little less. The sand is very fine, more like beach sand. Isis doesn't seem to have a problem either when I'm working with her on the ground or riding her, but I'm still concerned it might strain her tendons eventually. I hope this is a decent explenation, I wish you guys could just be here to look at it!! __________________ Kristie + Isis = Krisis!!!!!!!!! Isis - slaughter rescue Grattitude - Swedish Warmblood

07-20-2005, 10:30 AM	#2
cassidy Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: england - its sunny sometimes honest! Posts: 21,575 Images: 820	soft is fine as long as its deep enough! i actually find alot os arenas hard lol not really for the horse but to land on __________________ ive been snowballed... May your life be like toilet paper - Long and useful A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care. - Pat Parelli http://www.freewebs.com/linz88055/myprofile.htm

07-20-2005, 10:30 AM	#3
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,836 Images: 132	Beach sand is really great for arenas, it isn't too soft, but also it doesn't get hard very easily. It works up really well and tends to get compacted enough about an inch or so down to make a good landing for jumping and trotting and cantering. That being said, are sure you sink down close to an inch? If that's the case, then it might be too soft - if you sink down an inch, a 1200 pound animal will sink futher. I would water it and work it a bunch, that should help get a good base. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

07-20-2005, 10:40 AM	#4
zorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 6,607 Images: 474 Blog Entries: 332	I thought beach sand was too fine because if you're turning sharp corners the horse won't be able to grab on and will fall over?? __________________ "What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure." -Samual Johnson

07-20-2005, 10:42 AM	#5
cassidy Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: england - its sunny sometimes honest! Posts: 21,575 Images: 820	she has said though its like beach sand but it may not be? __________________ ive been snowballed... May your life be like toilet paper - Long and useful A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care. - Pat Parelli http://www.freewebs.com/linz88055/myprofile.htm

07-20-2005, 10:45 AM	#6
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,836 Images: 132	We have beach sand in all of our arenas and we have never had a problem with horses falling. It's best to keep it well watered and worked though, which I think helps create more friction. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

07-20-2005, 10:49 AM	#7
zorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 6,607 Images: 474 Blog Entries: 332	Ah, interesting. I just always heard that so we got a firmer sand when we built our arena. __________________ "What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure." -Samual Johnson

07-20-2005, 11:46 AM	#8
Asfaloth Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh Posts: 1,025 Images: 36	KZ your arena sounds like mine and it is just about perfect. As long as it is kept worked and watered it is a great riding surface and we do all sorts of events and disciplines in it with no one having a problem. __________________ Happiness is Owning and Riding Somthing Extraordinary

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