Hi folks!

I'm trying to get my outdoor arena redone before springtime so I can get my horses patterned and conditioned for next year.  All that's really left is the footing.  Right now it's just pasture grass...  Anybody have any ideas for good footing?  I have a tractor with a scraper so I can scrape off the grass and first few inches of topsoil, but I'm afraid if I use just dirt that it'll be nothing but mud.  However, I can't afford to buy arena footing (although I really don't know what kind of costs we're talking here...)  Anybody have any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks!

Ramsey

Hey Ramsey, Hows it going? I have no idea what the cost is but the first idea that comes to mind is sand. It helps with the footing and also the mud issue. Depending on the size of your arena, you might use two to three truck (double axels) loads. Take the top soil off and then put a layer of sand down. The more you work the horses the more it will get worked in. Most people who I know who have done this have to put more in every three of four years.  When I hit the lottery (hehe) that is what I will do for mine. That is after I get my tractor in runnig order. [grin]

Sand would be nice, if you had the money to do it.  I have a fairly flat area that I just disc up and keep graded and it is nothing but dirt.  It does get muddy, but I just have to deal with it.  It kind of works out to be dry on the days I need to do some pattern work and when it's not then I will trail ride or pasture ride.

We scrapped the sod off and worked up the other.  It does get muddy but if you have the money you can have it tiled.  We have been working sand in gradually over the years.  You have to be real careful not to add a lot because if it is to deep you cannot get it turned over to mix the dirt in.  There are a couple of outdoor arenas in southern Indiana with that problem now.  Just go slow and do what you can every year, you will be surprised how quick it works up and the big thing is, you are usually better off not working it during the mud season because it really gets muddy then[tongue]

Where are you in Southern Indiana?

I am actually just a little south of Indy but I haul all over the state and a lot into Ohio.  There are 2 arenas down south that added so much sand that it will be years before they get them worked in but their crowd is going to be hurt by then.  Oh well sand packs good if you can put enough water on it.  Up north there are several arenas that have very DEEP sand but then that is the nature of the ground of there, myself I prefer deep to hard as long as they can keep it consistant for everyone.  In this day and age everyone expects decent footing.  I guess people are smarter than they were in the old days and understand about getting horses hurt.

There is a great book out about arena footing.  It's from a publisher in Colorado, I"m sorry I don't have it with me.  But it gives examples of all kinds of footing and what works best for what events.  I think it cost about $12.  If you want more info., let me know and I'll get it.

I'd appreciate the name of the book! We have clay footing, which gets really  muddy when wet and is unrideable in the winter![bones]

We ran barrels last fall at local farm that had just started having shows.We were trying out a new horse and wanted to get a competition time on her.There were quite a few people entered in the
barrels,but apparently us and 2 other riders were the only ones with actual "barrel horses".It was unknown to us at the time but the arena footing was about 10" of dirt on top of GRASS.Needless to say all three "barrel horses" entered the arena like a bat out of you know where,and all three went down.The farm owners ended up canceling the rest of the running events.