Thank you everyone for the compliments on my arena. Yes, I fully realize I am one spoiled gal when it comes to my arena. The arena is 100′ x 225′ with all weather footing, six stadium lights, an electrical outlet on each light pole and water on both long sides of the arena. With the exception of a few days in the winter I can ride in it year round as the ground doesn’t freeze here in the winters (except for the mentioned few days).
As far as the footing I don’t remember exactly how the whole thing was built. There is a big french drain under the arena. A lot of ground work was done to prepare for the actual footing. The ground itself was laser leveled and then watered and compacted over and over for a couple of days. Then a big piece of geotextile fabric was put down and the layers of screenings were added. I know there is bigger rock (but still not big) on the very bottom layer that was again watered and rolled/compacted repeatedly. Then several inches of quarter down were added, with each new layer being watered and compacted/rolled repeatedly as well as being laser leveled, and then finally a layer of sand was added on top. I have nine pairs of jump standards and accompanying poles.
The catch with this lovely and very well-built arena is the footing does need to be worked regularly or the sand can get a bit packed down. As long as it is drug on a regular basis this is not a problem. Which is why I finally purchased the DR Power Grader. After years of dragging the arena being a huge pain it is now quick and easy!
This picture was taken in May a couple of years ago
Now that I’ve bragged about my arena for three paragraphs I guess I can move on to another topic! Below is another version of a “day in pictures.” All of these pictures were taken on Wednesday.
Jo and Mina, world’s cutest fainting goats
Mina playing on the ramps
Playing with the Winnie the Pooh ball
Missy down for a nap while Harmony grazes nearby
The one Canada Goose is still hanging around
Elfin
Dustin in the front and Baby behind him
Horses on the move; Homer in the back and Apollo and Levendi up front
Sparky coming to see me
Hi Sparky
Traveller
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