My wife is a barrel racer and needs to make a riding arena on our ranch in Oklahoma. The ground is rather heavy clay and gets rock hard and cracks under the hot summer sun but should serve as a good base. Currently the spot selected in fairly flat with good run off in all directions. Is there a single attatchment that could break up the sod, loosen the ground and also be used for general dragging prior to riding after the arena is finished? Could this same attachment be used for ranch road maintanance? We figure that once the ground is worked and the grass uprooted that we will have to haul in a layer of sand to cover it. I have a Mahindra 7520 70 HP 4 wheel drive tractor. Anyone with experience in this area suggestions would be appreciated.
Making an Maintaining a Horse arena
- Thread starter sao
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dtd24
Gold Member
Sounds like a box blade would do. I would use the box blade after a light rain which would soften the land up a bit. Takes a little bit to learn how to use it. You'll get it though. Lots of up and down on the tractor to adjust three point at first. WEAR YOUR SEATBELT!!!! Might also think about a landscape rake to remove rocks and final grade after.
I will be working on making our "outdoor arena" larger. I use quote because our outdoor is a round pen placed in a "field" before tractor.
One step by one step.
I will be working on making our "outdoor arena" larger. I use quote because our outdoor is a round pen placed in a "field" before tractor.
One step by one step.
Jimbrown
Veteran Member
Well I think what you need is a disk. and some kinda drag to use after the disk. I use a couple of cross ties for a drag and it works pretty well.
MtnViewRanch
Elite Member, Advertiser
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Do a search for rotary harrows, this will be good for your arena, not so good for any roads though. I use a Gearmore 8' rotary harrow for my fence lines and along side my roads. Rotaryharrow.com will ship anywhere. Very similar to my Gearmore.
There are many many different implements that work for road maintenance, that's a hole different post, do a search here on TBN.
Good luck
There are many many different implements that work for road maintenance, that's a hole different post, do a search here on TBN.
Good luck
davkir
Gold Member
I used a box blade with the teeth all the way down to break up the topsoil and clay and then used it with the teeth up and the loader to remove the loose soil.
Added about 3" of crushed stone to carry off water and covered with flumestone. Sand/gravel mix would be fine also. If you don't have good drainage, you might bury a tile in the crushed stone.
I maintain it by adding material as required and loosening/leveling it with a chain harrow.
(Anything to keep the horses happy!!!!)
Added about 3" of crushed stone to carry off water and covered with flumestone. Sand/gravel mix would be fine also. If you don't have good drainage, you might bury a tile in the crushed stone.
I maintain it by adding material as required and loosening/leveling it with a chain harrow.
(Anything to keep the horses happy!!!!)
I saw something on the internet called the Groundhog that incorporates the teeth of a box blade with a spring toothed harrow and then a spiked wheel to pack and level behind. Anyone have any experience with something like that? They say it is good for road maintainance as well. Thanks for the crushed rock and top layer recommendations as I was wondering if that was necessary and how deep the layers should be.
A box blade will not provide a proper footing as it is doutful that you will get the rippers down far enough. A disk will probably make it too deep and a tiller/rotary harrow will make a powdery surface. There are lots of ways to make an arena. My view is that how much you spend should probably depend on the value of the horse, how much you are willing to pay the vet to treat suspensory injuries, and how badly you worry about keeping your horses sound.
I use a tiller when the outdoor arena is wet to fluff the surface and help it dry out. After a period for drying, I go in with a box blade (no rippers) to level it. Then I go in with my TR3 to build the footing.
Mine are all hunter/jumpers so I have to worry about traction, takeoff and landing. For barrels, it's mostly traction. The best thing I've found is the TR-3. It's a bit pricy, it's not perfect, but it does put in a very good footing.
Introducing The TR3 Rake: The Horse Industry's Premier Drag.
I use a tiller when the outdoor arena is wet to fluff the surface and help it dry out. After a period for drying, I go in with a box blade (no rippers) to level it. Then I go in with my TR3 to build the footing.
Mine are all hunter/jumpers so I have to worry about traction, takeoff and landing. For barrels, it's mostly traction. The best thing I've found is the TR-3. It's a bit pricy, it's not perfect, but it does put in a very good footing.
Introducing The TR3 Rake: The Horse Industry's Premier Drag.
rope1
Member
A 4 in 1, or groundhawg, would be my first choice if money will allow. Lets you do everything your looking for in the arena and on the driveways. Plus if you are in OK you might be able to go pick one up with out all the freight. Found a link to their site,
Ground Hog
I used to use a box blade with 2 drag sections behind it, angle the blade forward enough and the teath dig in nice and the back blade wont carry dirt, then the drags level it out nice.
Ground Hog
I used to use a box blade with 2 drag sections behind it, angle the blade forward enough and the teath dig in nice and the back blade wont carry dirt, then the drags level it out nice.
canoetrpr
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I plan on first bushogging to cut the grans and then using several passes with a cultivator to try to break up the grass and then using a landscape rake.
