Arena Groomer

[hess]

I am looking into both Millcreek's arena groomer and the ring groomer from Eastern Farm Machinery.
They both have the same design and principle: the rotating harrow has spikes that loosen and level the dirt.
They appears to be very aggressive and effective, but I would like some more information.
Personal experience or links (or other recommended arena harrows) would be greatly appreciated.
hess

[Knight9]

http://www.parmacompany.com/arena/

Only one I've actually heard of as an "arena groomer" prior to this. No experience with it however!

Kevin

[cowboydoc]

I've used them all Hess at one time or another and none of them beat a disc and harrow. I'll usually disc my arena to about 4" once a month and then before I use it I will just run a drag harrow over it. When people come over to rope they always ask how I get my arena so nice but are amazed when I tell them. You can usually by the harrow sections for less than $50 and an old disc won't cost you much either, probably less than a $100. That's my advice anyway.

[hess]

Richard,
Approximately, what size disc and harrow would I be looking for? I have a 26HP 4200.
Also, what are some brand names I could search under?
Thanks, hess.

[DDT]

hess,
I would vote for a 5' disc. That is what I used behind a 755 & 855. Now that I have a 4300 I'd like to trade it in for a 6'. Why is it every time you get a bigger tractor you seam to allways need bigger equipment.

[hess]

DDT,
Can you give me any model or brand names?
Also, I do not understand the difference between a disc harrow, and a disc AND harrow as cowboydoc described.
Thanks, hess.

[cowboydoc]

Hess,
The one I use for my arena is just a little 4' disc that is mounted on the three point. As you probably know you don't want to get too deep with your footing or you can get leg problems in your horses. With the three point you can control the depth really easy. Brand new from farm and fleet they are $399. I see them all the time at farm sales as nobody wants them for $100 or less. Also for the harrow all you need is just a pull behind. I just use a section of an older bigger harrow that I picked up for $10 at the auction. It's about 4' wide. I just pull it with my four wheeler and it does a great job.

[cowboydoc]

Hess,
Just saw your other post. A disc harrow has the harrow mounted right behind the disc. As the ground is disced up them it's run right over with the harrow. As far as brands go if you want to buy new like I said F&F has the little disc for $399. You can buy the 4' harrow section from country mfg. for $265 for the pull behind and $300 for the 3 point freight included. If you go that route I'd get the three point though for the extra $35. Nice thing about the disc and harrow is that you can use them for other things as well. With an arena groomer, well you're stuck with just that. Not alot of other uses.

[hess]

Thanks,
I checked into the King Kutter and Tufline models, as well as the chain harrows.
I think I'll start looking for used disc's locally.
hess

[GrantMO]

Richard and Hess,

What I always called a disc the manufacturers of the smaller implements call a disc harrow with either smooth or notched disc blades. Harrows like Richard is talking about (I think) are the spike tooth variety you see bigger farmers dragging alone or behind their larger discs usually a number of them fastened together. The spikes are small,like railroad spikes. Around here you have to go out away from the city a bit to auctions and you can usually find those types of harrows pretty cheap. A local farm store had a new 8 or 10 ft. wide harrow without 3pt hookup and it was 600 bucks!