Upgrading tractor for dragging horseback riding arenas

[angusblack]

I am in the market to upgrade my tractor. The primary function will be to drag the 3 riding arenas at our boarding stable. What I THINK i need is based on the shortcomings of what I already have. I own a 35 HP hydrostatic which I purchased and a 40hp gear tractor which I inheritted. Pulling the same 6.5' TR3 drag, the hydrostatic cant even think about high range, sometimes struggles in mid rang depending on how much dirt/sand it engages with, and low range is just so slow I could shoot myself. The gear tractor pulls it just fine. So in my head, gear tractor > hydro

Another complication is who might operate it. I have 2 employees, a wife, and 2 small children who may operate it in the future. My wife and employees cant drive a golf cart around the property without crashing, so there is no way I will ever let them operate a gear tractor. If I get a gear machine, I will be the sole operator for many years to come, and I will need to keep the hydro tractor for them to use. If I go with a hydro tractor, i may let other operate it after to new toy excitement wears off, and I can sell the hydro tractor to recoup some of the investment. So in my head, hydro > gear

When I first bought my farm, an older friend told me when purchasing a tractor, go bigger than you think you need, and get the cab.....I didnt listen. I dont intend to make that mistake again. I plan to go as big as a can while staying in the compact/small utility size frame so I can still get in and out of my indoor riding areans. Hydro tractors seem to top out around 60hp. Frustratingly, dealers seem only to be capable of pushing whatever they have in stock on you as opposed to providing confident answers on what exactly would be best for my purposes.

So my main question is, will I be disappointed in the dragging power/speed of a 50-60hp hydrostatic like I am the 35?

What is the best tire for sand, snow, turf?

I think I only have New Holland, Kubota, Massey and Deere on Long Island, so I'm open to specific recommendations from those makes.

What clearance does your arena door allow? The Kubota L range specs show about 9.5' height with cab.

 

[rScotty]

I pulled the trigger and my 2023 L6060 was delivered last week. One of the final features that tipped me in that direction was the location of the fuel fill, which is right next to the right side step to get into the cab as opposed to on top of the hood. Top speed in Mid Range is actually a very nice and comfortable speed to just set it in cruise control go while dragging. Unless I am moving big amounts of earth, I dont think there will be any problems top dressing in high. As some pointed out, I def didnt need so much tractor for the intended purpose, but I made that mistake with my first tractor, getting just enough for what I need. I also really like all the features like the stall guard, automatic downshift, and linking the RPM to the pedal, I see them all as insurance policies against my workers wrecking my equipment.
SNIP

Congratulations on your choice.

Following this thread, we wondered if a larger HP tractor with an upgraded HST transmission would meet your needs. We did the same thing 15 years ago on a horse property when we went from two 30 hp gear tractors to a 60 hp Kubota with HST +. It's been perfect. I think you got it right with the L6060 and the HST + transmission.

rScotty

 

[JethroB]

What clearance does your arena door allow? The Kubota L range specs show about 9.5' height with cab.

I learned something interesting about the Kubota Grand L’s. My 4760 ROPS is about 5 inches taller than the 5460 cab. 98 inches for ROPS and 93 inches for the cab height. I have to lower the ROPS to enter my 8 foot high shop door, the cab goes inside with no issues. Both have R4 tires. Huh

 

[billybonds]

What clearance does your arena door allow? The Kubota L range specs show about 9.5' height with cab.

I have 8' at one entrance and 12' at the other. My cab only measures 8' tall though.

 

[billybonds]

We use an 8' Red Master II harrow for our dressage arena. They make a roller that can be interchanged for the rear blade but we don't need the fluff it provides. We pull it with the NH TC40DA 40HP HST.

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Funny, thats the same tractor(TC40a actually) I am replacing. I inheritted it when i purchased the farm next door. It pulls great, but cosmetically was treated very very poorly. Fenders are trashed, hood is so smashed up it just bounces around, bucket rotted out, every light busted, etc. We produce horse shows at our farm, I didnt feel comfortable relying on this tractor to do the job without the chance of a breakdown.

How do you like the Redmaster Harrow? A local farm was selling one set up for synthetic, and I was contemplating getting a price from the manufacture to purchase the S-tines and grader to convert it over to a sand arena drag.

 

[WM75Guy]

Funny, thats the same tractor(TC40a actually) I am replacing. I inheritted it when i purchased the farm next door. It pulls great, but cosmetically was treated very very poorly. Fenders are trashed, hood is so smashed up it just bounces around, bucket rotted out, every light busted, etc. We produce horse shows at our farm, I didnt feel comfortable relying on this tractor to do the job without the chance of a breakdown.

How do you like the Redmaster Harrow? A local farm was selling one set up for synthetic, and I was contemplating getting a price from the manufacture to purchase the S-tines and grader to convert it over to a sand arena drag.

We like it. We were glad we went with the grader blade. Considered getting the roller but didn't need the fluff, wanted the smoother surface. With the 8' model making tight turns in the dressage arena will leave a little windrow of dirt at the end due to the end wings on the blade going sideways. The roller probably wouldn't do that.