Advice on Building an Outdoor Arena

[bota7800]

Thanks for the opinions.

This is Colorado - there are rocks there no matter what I do. Same with clay.
There is a slight grade to the area so I will probably have to raise the arena with structural fill. First I need to remove the vegetation layer.

I don't plan to rope or jump so the depth of material will not be very deep - still thinking about that. I haven't decided on the top material yet. Not a lot of beach sand around here.

There are companies here that build arenas, and like I said, I will get bids from them.

The TR3 people (who are pretty hard sell as LoneCowboy said) claimed that the TR3 would rip up the vegetation. I don't know if a 30 horse tractor with R4s would pull it through though.

 

[Mike120]

I've actually pulled my TR3 with a Ford 1700 tractor, but I didn't have the teeth down very far and the little Ford didn't like it too much. I agree with Renze about the loam. I've had pure sand arenas in the past and would never do it again. Loam gives much better footing.

If you just need a flat area to ride on, and you're not that hung up on the perfection of the footing.....You're probably better off with a rock bucket, a tiller, and a chain harrow. The main thing is to get the rocks out.

The TR3 will do pretty much everything they say it will do, BUT it's not necessarly the best tool for every task....It does do a great job in my arenas and that's really all that's important to me.

 

[Renze]

The most popular arena harrow in Holland is this type:
http://www.landreus.nl/product.php?id=163&taal=landreus

They cost allmost nothing, and are easy to use because of the floating back plate.

 

[bota7800]

Renze,

That groomer looks good. I have seen some similar here but not exactly like it, I know of several groomers, such as the Parma, that will do the job once the arena is in.

Mike, good info on the TR3. That is what concerned me with my 30 horse tractor too.

Thanks to both.