Best attachment for riding ring/arena?

   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #1  

TheProgenator

New member
Joined
Sep 21, 2008
Messages
8
Location
CO
Tractor
New Holland TC34DA
Hi All - I'm new to this site and new to having a tractor and a little land. Have a New Holland TC34DA (now called I think a T2200?) Have a riding ring that used to be nice sand/fine-gravel, and is now covered with weeds. We're new to this property. I asked the previous owner what he did and he said "rake and RoundUp."
Question - in addition to the RoundUp or chemicals question, what's everyone's advice on how to clear the weeds and drag something over the ring to groom it - York rake? Box blade? something else? The ring is very sandy and the weeds pull out very easily by hand, but that would take a few years. We're using the ring for dog agility, not horses.
Thanks in advance!
 
   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #2  
Since it's sand you've got a few options. A rake will be a good one but you'll lose material when the rake gets full of the weeds. A harley rake will stir up the surface nicely then a rake can top dress it. I've also seen large timbers used to smooth the surface after the harley rake.

Matt T.;)
 
   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #3  
   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #4  
Used to be involved in 4H Equine activities, and all they ever used was a drag harrow behind an old Farmall H. It pulled the weeds, filled in ruts and holes (from barrel racing), and leveled things nicely. It was very sandy soil at the fairground arena too. Keep in mind that these drags were pretty heavy duty, with chisel points, not like most chain-link style ATV drags you see out there...

Hope that helps!
 
   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #5  
I would second the suggestion for the TR-3.
 
   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #6  
I have a sand arena for horses and use a Riata II arena drag. It was 2600$ and the TR3 is even more than that ( maybe 3700?). For using with dogs I would suggest a drag harrow to pull behind your tractor. Get one wide enough to cover your tractor wheels. It should do a good job smoothing the sand. Harrows don't do a great job leveling in large ruts like horses create, but it should be enough for the pooches.
 
   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #7  
We have a TR3 rascal drag that we pull behing an ATV for our horse arenas. It does a very nice job because it has 5-6 scarifiers that loosen the sand and then a comb after that to level. As stated above, it is more necessary with horses because they will pack the sand down and leave bigger divits. It does seem like a lot of money for what you get (the rascal was around $1300 if I remember correctly), but it works very well. Our arenas are used daily so weeds are never a problem. I would recommend a landscape rake with wheels or a harrow drag. Here are some links incase you don't know what they are.

Tractor Supply Company - Loyal Harrow Drag 8X8

Tractor Supply Company - 6 ft Heavy Duty Landscape Rake with Guide Wheels
 
   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #8  
Personally I would throw a lot of money at it. Landscape rake should take care of it just fine. Might take a few passes but once its whipped into shape you should be good to go.

Leinbach Yard Tool might also work pretty good and be cheaper.
 
   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #9  
Good suggestions so far. Lots of ways to get it done.

Just a few random thoughts and things I've picked up as I've tried to do this.

To get it in shape initially:
Hit it with roundup, wait 2-4 weeks until it dies down good, scalp as low as possible with a mower, rake off the plant matter, and then till it if you can borrow a tiller from somebody. Then you should have a good base from which to work. Pack it down with a roller, a pulverizor or the tractor wheels.

To keep it in shape:
A pulverizer like the Leinbach (already mentioned) or an old, used Gill pulverizer would do a good job -- scarify as much or little as you need with the spikes, and pack/firm with the roller(s). Also, a flexible drag harrow from TSC ($399 for 8') does a really nice job maintaining the area once it's prepped. Landscape rakes work well to skim off dead weeds, rocks, branches, etc...
 
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   / Best attachment for riding ring/arena? #10  
My nephew uses the rake below for his horse arena and brags on it. It would seem for dogs many implements would be fine from a tiller to a cultivator to a landscape rake (you may need to remove from teeth until the grass is out).



King Kutter Incorporated
 
 
 
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