The Importance of Sand

Depending on where you live, your sand choices can vary dramatically. Knowing what to look for in choosing the sand for your arena can save you a lot of money and maintenance time. Too often, people let their contractors choose the sand for them, or choose what is closest to them, and cheapest. All sand is not created equal!

Choosing the wrong kind of sand can mean ending up with a dusty, shifty surface that will need the addition of expensive amendments to make it behave properly. Furthermore, the wrong sand can affect the drainage of your arena, making it un-ridable long after a rain or thaw. Although many things can cause problems like poor drainage, choosing the right sand can go a long way towards getting it right.

Getting the Most Bang for your Buck

After constructing a properly graded arena base (using the right materials) the choice of footing is the most important decision you will have to make regarding your arena. Footings can vary dramatically in cost and type, and we are lucky to have so many options available to us. If money is no object, then you have a world of footings available to you, and many more being developed every day! But, if like most of us, you are working on a budget, choosing the right kind of sand for your arena can save you a lot of money.

As long as you have constructed a good foundation (base) for your arena, the right kind of sand can feel like a much more expensive footing, provided you commit to maintaining it properly. Proper maintenance means dragging your arena regularly and picking up manure after you ride. Another tip is to try and not let your arena dry out completely. It is much harder to re-hydrate and the sand particles separate out as the surface dries, leaving the finest particles on the surface to become irritating dust.

The right kind of sand needs to have the following criteria: it needs to be sub-angular in shape. If your sand is round then it will shift and not support your horses, and if it is a completely angular sand (usually a manufactured sand) then it will pack and feel dead with no natural cushion. It also needs to drain at least between 4 to 6 inches per hour. Sands that don’t drain faster than that typically have a higher percentage of fine particles, which can turn into dust. Finally, it should ideally be a washed, sized, sand. Sands that have not been processed are subject to inconsistencies in particle size and you can’t depend on the last load being the same as the first.

There are many different kinds of sands out there, and sometimes the choice can be overwhelming. Also, if you have an existing arena and are wondering if you can re-hab what you have, you might want to call an arena surface consultant who can help you analyze what you have, or make recommendations on new surface options. Getting the right advice before you encounter problems can help you save a lot of money!

What is this?

Welcome to the Footing Forum! Footing Forum is a place where riders, builders of arenas and manufacturers of equestrian surfaces and surface components can engage in a dialog that hopefully can be instrumental in improving riding arena construction, surfaces and maintenance. I am a producer of high quality riding surfaces and an arena design and construction consultant. I am passionate about sharing the information necessary to improve riding surfaces, which will ultimately result in improved rider and horse safety, better air quality (= better respiratory health in people and animals) and greater condition and performance.



From indoor arenas to training tracks to round pens, everyone agrees: Without good footing, your investment is wasted. Even more important however, is what is going on below the surface. Many people begin an arena construction project without knowing or understanding the crucial importance of a properly constructed arena base. Although there are several correct methods of construction, typically, an arena base is constructed (taking site restrictions into consideration) out of compacted crushed stone. I've added a basic diagram to illustrate the layers:



I wish I could credit the person who created this image, but I don't know who it is (my apologies!). After the basic material needs are considered, the next step is to seriously determine your drainage requirements. This determination should be made with a qualified arena builder or a soil engineer. Many things can affect your future drainage, the most significant being (from the ground up):
1. Sub-soil: Clay or other impermeable sub-soil can hold water.
2. Incorrect grade on your arena surface: 1 - 1.5% is desirable
3. Choice of footing: Footing with an excessive amount of fines can hold water
4. Placing your arena next to a barn roof, hillside or road where water can run right onto your surface.

Next posting: The construction timeline and what to plan for.

PLEASE!! This blog is for everyone and will have the most impact if you participate! I invite you to post questions and comments. Join the dialog!