Arena Project

[Casimir]

Steve:

I saw your earlier post, as well. I suspect much has to do with your local soil conditions. I used about 6 inches of crusher run (about 1.5" minus, meaning a lot of finer material mixed with the gravel). Crusher run tends to pack very well, due to the fines. I probably should have used 3 inches or so of dust on top of the crusher run. The dust is smaller (probably 0.25 inch minus) and also packs well. What worked up into the sand would not have been much larger than the sand itself. This would have given a total of about 9 inches of base, which would be plenty for horses in our area.

Your contractor is probably more familiar with your local conditions and what works well there. Mixing clay with the stone dust approximates sand. I would expect the smaller clay particles to be leached down through the sand and help bind the base together. If not, the clay could cause a dust problem during dry spells -- requiring watering to maintain a good surface footing and hold the dust down. Your arena probably works well for your area - enjoy it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Merry Christmas!
Kip

 

[Casimir]

Doc:

Yes, it is a small world. I don't know any Range Conservationist or BLM Manager that enjoys cutting a Rancher's grazing privileges - they know that most Ranchers depend on the public lands for their livelihood. (Most aren't Doctors /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) Sorry, that just slipped out.

However, as you know, BLM's legal charge is to protect the land and resources. That's not easy, with all the competing demands from users, but I think most BLM'ers try to do the best job they can and not favor any one group over another. It was a challenging career, but I really enjoyed working with the Ranchers, Loggers, Miners, Dirt Bike Riders, Wild Horse Advocates, and all the others.

Gotta go - Mama needs help with a lame horse (not serious, we hope, and not Casimir).

Kip

 

[cowboydoc]

most Ranchers depend on the public lands for their livelihood. (Most aren't Doctors ) Sorry, that just slipped out.


Well if it would have been my choice I probably would have come home to ranch after college. My grandparents really pushed me to go on. I'm glad now that they did but I do miss not ranching full-time. All of my family is in ranching/farming and I know it is a struggle. We work really hard with our land but we don't depend on it to put food on the table like they do. I try and help all I can by buying better bulls, studs, and more land when it comes up. It's kind of like when they asked the rancher what he'd do if he won the lottery. He replied he reckoned he'd could keep ranching a few more years with it. LOL

Hope your horse is ok. I hate it when one goes down. Best of luck with him.

 

[Casimir]

Actually, Doc, I became a Range Con because I like ranching. Unfortunately, (maybe fortunately, given the current ranching economics) I was not born into a ranching family or one that was independently wealthy. My Dad was career Air Force, but I spent a lot of time when I was growing up on my Uncle's ranch in Wyoming. Becoming a Range Con was the only way I could see that I could afford to work out on the range and get paid a living wage. I like ranch folks and the lifestyle. Now that I am retired, we finally have a few acres of our own, with room for a couple of horses -- the closest I will ever come to ranching full time.

The horse is a mare, Casimir's mother. My wife thinks it may be an abscessed hoof -- things have really been wet and muddy around here. The farrier was here and couldn't find it, so guess we will just have to wait and see if it gets bad enough to accurately diagnose or it just clears up on its own /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif.

Hope you folks have a Very Merry Christmas! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kip

 

[SteveBenson]

You're right about the clay. It can get a little dusty when it gets real dry. Usaully it only gets that dry around here for a couple months in the summer. This year it never even got dry enough to be a problem (it was a horrible year for getting good hay in the barn too). However, I just aquired a 3-ton set of running gear to make a water wagon out of.