Footing for horse arena, done!

bazman82 · Jul 1, 2022

Finally got our outdoor horse arena footing done! We used concrete sand from the closest quarry that had it and had it listed as used in horse arenas. 260 tons total came in yesterday and I took the day off to spread it around as it was delivered. Have just a small pile left over and it is sitting in the corner of the arena for now.

Next step, a fence to go around it but that will be next years project since all these layers of fill cost way more than (the wife) expected.

Just a few photos of yesterdays process and one photo of my wife testing it out afterwards.

Rockbadchild · Jul 1, 2022

very nice pad … nice how soft is it ? do you think you will have to compact it at all ?

bazman82 · Jul 1, 2022

Thanks! It cost quite a bit to get that pad done right and I think the footing is just right. It's not too soft if I have the depth right, which is most areas. I did have some deeper areas that I hit with the box blade after my wife was done. It is a "gritty" sand but doesn't seem overly "gritty", its hard to explain I guess. I don't think we will be compacting it, I've been driving over it with the tractors to spread it around and took the cultimulcher over it as well. That was a bit of a learning curve using it on the sand.

We used "dry-screenings" from Lafarge for the pad (limestone product). It was graded and rolled and then sat for about a week before we squared away the footing material. Never even got rained on even though it called for rain for a few days.

The hardest thing about the whole project was the different use of terms everyone uses. It made it hard to figure out the correct products at first.

Rockbadchild · Jul 1, 2022

bazman82 said:
Thanks! It cost quite a bit to get that pad done right and I think the footing is just right. It's not too soft if I have the depth right, which is most areas. I did have some deeper areas that I hit with the box blade after my wife was done. It is a "gritty" sand but doesn't seem overly "gritty", its hard to explain I guess. I don't think we will be compacting it, I've been driving over it with the tractors to spread it around and took the cultimulcher over it as well. That was a bit of a learning curve using it on the sand.

We used "dry-screenings" from Lafarge for the pad (limestone product). It was graded and rolled and then sat for about a week before we squared away the footing material. Never even got rained on even though it called for rain for a few days.

The hardest thing about the whole project was the different use of terms everyone uses. It made it hard to figure out the correct products at first.

ho i bet the cost was surprising … yes that’s good stuff they’ve removed the silt and clay from the sand so you basically got “beach sand” it won’t compact but for horse it’s perfect smooth on their joints and that have to work harder to get going.