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  Discussion on Footing Depths for various disciplines in one arena
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Member:
corinne

Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 10:26 am:

The beautiful new barn I am at has only had about 10 hours of riding in the newly put in indoor arena that has a clay base and river sand, that is just not dusty, go figure, I thought it would be. It's probably about 5 inches deep in some areas but to me it seems fluffy on top and will be easily compressed over time with watering and use.
The question is, this is a multi discipline barn. The reiners want six inches, the jumpers want 3 and supposedly the dressage folks want 2.
I have ridden and cantered in it on 20 meters and even popped over a fence and it has not felt slippery or too deep as it's lighter than a feather. Our obstacle is getting used to a non dressage sized arena (it's 100/180) and the footing which is deeper than we are used to but once again it does not feel unsafe and the horses feet never seek below half the hoof or in the deepest parts, usually the corners that has not been packed down, the coronet band
The owner is torn between dragging out more dirt and leaving it and letting it settle. Any advice?
She is dragging and watering daily.
Which would be the best depth for all disciplines. We each have an outdoor with footing to our likings. If the reiners who do some speed movements like it deep then surely if it's not slippery than it can't be dangerous to the ligaments etc can it? I keep my horses legs wrapped in EskaDrOn wraps or polos.
Any advice as the owner is torn.

Thanks,
Corinne
Member:
canter

Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 10:53 am:

Corinne,
I don't know what a good compromise for all disciplines would be, but I would advise the owner to wait a while before she adds more sand. With use, it will pack down and then it may be a good time to add more. It's always easier to add more later then add too much now and either have to remove it or risk tendons/ligaments.

I've always been told that too deep is dangerous and less is more when it comes to the health of the horses' legs.
Member:
corinne

Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 3:02 pm:

Thanks Fran. She was going to take out as opposed to adding because the hunter jumpers want it less deep but because it's new she wants to see if it will pack down with watering etc before she removes any more. I was just wondering what the most appropriate depth would be where we all could work without worry. Why would the reiners want it so deep if that's dangerous? Just curious? What depth do they normally work in?
She is just hesitant to remove anymore when it's new and hasn't had a chance to pack down. Just curious as to what others think of footing depths when working with all sorts of riding.
Member:
joann

Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 1:12 pm:

Can anyone give me the details on figuring sand for my round pen? I want a four (4)inch base and the pen is 70 feet around (35ft diameter) Also it is suggested that I use washed sand not unwashed. Help and thanks
Member:
mrose

Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 3:12 pm:

There's a long thread on arenas and footing that's been kind of on-going. There are some web sites posted on the thread that might be helpful.
If you can't find it, I'll find it for you later. Just came in for a cold drink and don't have time right now.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 3:16 pm:

Oh, what the heck; I'm not in that big a hurry to go back out in the hot sun!

https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/3/245821.html

I noticed there are quite a few threads when you do a search for arenas. Hopefully, some of them will be helpful.
Member:
canter

Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 4:10 pm:

Joann, it's been a while since I took algebra (a LONG while...); lets see if memory serves:

To find the area of a circle the equation is pi (3.14) x r2 (radius squared). What I don't remember is how to figure the radius from the diameter, but simply measure from the exact middle to the outside edge (half the diameter?). That will give you the square footage, which you will then multiply by 0.33 (4" or 1/3 of a foot). That should give you the amount of sand you need in cubic feet.

Hmmm...can any HA math experts verify that I am correct? I'm having doubts now that I put this down. At any rate, I would think that someone from your sand supplier should be able to help you calculate exactly how much you need to get to the 4" depth if you supply the round pen dimensions.
Member:
canderso

Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 10:29 pm:

Fran, you are right. The radius is half the diameter.
So the area is 35 x3.14x3.14 = 345 sq. ft
add the depth (0.33') = 115 cubic feet
= 4.3 cubic yards.
Member:
canter

Posted on Friday, Jul 25, 2008 - 10:50 am:

Thanks, Cheryl! At my age, sometimes I have to wonder about the accuracy of my memory. Good to know not all of those years of schooling have been lost!
Member:
lilo

Posted on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 - 1:40 pm:

Hi Joann, Fran and Cheryl,

About the arena calculation .. Fran, your formula is correct, radius squared times 3.14 for the area.

Cheryl - I get a different result. 35 x 35 x 3.14 equals 3846.5 square feet. Multiplying by the depth, 1/3 foot, gives me 1282.16 cubic feet.

There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, so I come up with 47.5 cubic yards for Joann's round pen.

Feel free to redo my numbers in case there is an error, but that is how I figure it.

Lilo
Member:
muffi

Posted on Thursday, Jul 31, 2008 - 1:31 am:

WHen I was in AZ I was fortunate to have a neighbor that dredged WASH Sand and let us have it for nothing.
Wash or Arroyo sand is a little larger than Beach sand and not very dusty. it was the best.
it was a 60 FT Round Pen - I can not remember how much or how many Cubic what evers we put in there. the neighbor kept dumping it in our driveway then I dumped it in the arena. sweet deal. now we have clay soil and small wood chips in the current arena to keep the Clay soil from clumping - but I am not jumping or spinning just some small short training. but it is a soft surface. no more than half hoof deep - works well at a gallop for them too!
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