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Building and maintaining an equine arena involves major expense. Before you invest in building, improving, or maintaining your arena, buy this book. You can save thousands of dollars by preventing injury to your horse, not to mention the huge savings achieved by building an arena correctly from the start!
- Five steps you can take to prevent your arena footing from becoming too hard
- How to manage dust and drainage
- Creating good, safe footing
PUBLISHER’S COMMENTS
Everyone considering building or renovating an arena needs this one! Malmgren covers all aspects of arena construction and maintenance.
AUTHOR’S BIO
Malmgran is a soil scientist and consultant, has worked with the racetrack and polo industry as well as Colorado State University and other equine programs to develop safe, user-friendly facilities.
REVIEWS
“…a no-nonsense, practical guide to building and maintaining proper arena grounds…highly recommended.” (Library Bookwatch)
“For the first time, horsepeople can find practical, informed advice on constructing and maintaining an equine arena.” (Equestrian Retailer)
“…the book is a complete reference for the novice or professional looking to build a useful arena.” (Cascade Horseman)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 SOIL ESSENTIALS
Fundamentals
Problems with Poorly Suited Materials
Sources of Assistance
Additional On-Site Concerns
Variability of Soils
Additional Comments
Chapter 2 ARENA FLOOR BASICS
The Footing
The Base
The Sub-Base
Additional Comments
Chapter 3 SAND
Definition
Mineralogy of Sands
Shape of Sand Grains
Size of Sand Particles
Particle-Size Distribution
Sand Performance
Buying Sand
Weight and Volume of Sand
Do Sands Wear Out?
Sands with Silt and Clay Content
Water-Holding Capacity of Sands and Other Soil Materials
Additional Comments
Chapter 4 DIRT
Terminology
The Nature of Soil Materials
Additional Comments
Chapter 5 TURF OR GRASS SURFACES
Turf Concepts
Soil-Plant Relationships
Soil Analysis
Site Analysis
Sodding versus Seeding
Maintenance
Additional Comments
Chapter 6 ARENA CONSTRUCTION
Background
Resilience
Soil Strength
Depth/Thickness
Moisture Percentage
Texture/ Particle-Size Distribution
Gravel content
Drainage
Additional Comments
Chapter 7 DUST
The Challenge
Arena Surfaces
Dust Control
Used Oil
Dealing with Dust
Contributing Factors to Dust Potential
Management Practices
Additional Comments
Chapter 8 YOUR WATER RESOURCE
The Water Picture
Optimum Use
Additional Comments
Chapter 9 HARDNESS
The Unseen Hazard
The Concern about Hardness
Measurement of Hardness
Causes
Dealing with Hardness
Additional Comments
Chapter 10 OUTDOOR VERSUS INDOOR ARENAS
Site Selection
Managing the Elements: Sun, Wind, Snow
Round Pens
Additional Comments
Chapter 11 ARENA MAINTENANCE
The Value of Maintenance
Soil Texture
Tools of the Trade
The Use of the Drag
Selecting the Right Harrow
General
Special Considerations for Outdoor Arenas
Additional Comments
Chapter 12 THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ARENA MANAGEMENT
Know Your Starting Materials
Additional Comments
Chapter 13 FOOTING AMENDMENTS
The What and Why of Amendments
Know Your Basic Problem
Some Simple Tests
Check Your Maintenance
Soil Amendments
Chapter 14 MANURE MANAGEMENT
The Problem
Converting a Waste to a Resource
Factors in Site Selection
Uses of Compost
Additional Comments
Chapter 15 PURCHASING LAND
The Laundry List
Weather Extremes or Climate Change?
Plan to Be a Good Neighbor
Additional Comments
GLOSSARY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
REFERENCE SOURCES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX
EXCERPT
CHAPTER ONE
FUNDAMENTALS
Any book discussing equine arenas would fall short of its goal if a description of the mantle covering the surface of the earth (soil) were not included. Either directly or indirectly, soils or soil materials are related to the quality of an equine facility. Soils, by definition, are comprised of mineral and organic matter with varying amounts of air and water in them. ‘The air and water move through the soils via pores which vary in size from very fine (not visible to the naked eye) to coarse (readily observed without the aid of magnification). The largest individual use made of soils is in the production of plants, including forests, pastures, orchards, and row crops.
In the United States alone there are over 10,000 different soils. Each of these soils has been identified with a name (such as Colby Silt Loam, for example) and has certain characteristics which determine its capability for certain uses. Some soils are more productive than others. Many have inherent chemical and/or physical problems; quite often these can be modified once the specific problem is identified. Soils come in all colors—black, grey, yellow, brown, and red—with a multitude of different shades or intensities of each color possible.
In addition to their agronomic, horticultural and forestry uses, soils have long been used for roads, airstrips, the foundation for buildings, golf courses, athletic facilities, and, increasingly, for equine facilities, including arenas and racetracks. In the same way that not all soils are well adapted for the growth of apples or cotton, so also not all soils are appropriate for an equine facility. When it comes to equine facilities, we have two concerns: First, how suitable is the on-site soil material for a sub-base and, in some cases, for the base; and second, how suitable is the material for use as footing? In most cases, it will be necessary to go beyond a visual test and proceed to a few simple tests that can be run by most soil labs. Even though the subbase may start at ten to twenty inches below the surface of the arena, its suitability must he determined in advance. The right materials for the footing, base and sub-base will ensure the potential for optimum performance and long life for the facility. With poorly suited material, arena maintenance becomes difficult, performance variable, and the potential for re-doing the arena highly possible.
PROBLEMS WITH POORLY SUITED MATERIALS
What are some of the characteristics of poorly suited materials?
Footing
Dust
• A result of a high percent of fine and very fine sand, plus silt.
• Very low water-holding capacity.
• Water-repellent soil.
Hardness
• Certain soil textures compact easily with sandy loam, rating high for hardness potential and creating a hazard for the equine athlete.
• A quick test for determining the hardness potential is to take about a heaping tablespoon of the soil in question, moisten it to the point of saturation, roll it between the thumb and index finger to the diameter of a coarse wire (1/8-1/4 inch diameter), allow to dry and determine its relative hardness.
Base/Sub-base
• Certain subsoils found in the high rainfall zones of Hawaii are “smeary,” or slick, when moist and are unstable for supporting the arena.
• Many soils in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming have a high shrink-swell potential. When they are wet, they expand; when dry, they crack. This situation provides very poor support for arenas as well as for building construction.
SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE
• The Soil Survey Report for your particular county provides a quick, in-depth look at the soils on your property.
• The personnel at the Natural Resources Conservation office (formerly called Soil Conservation Service) might also yield some helpful information on your soils.
• Work with an arena consultant.
• Work with a soil-testing lab.
ADDITIONAL ON-SITE CONCERNS
Other soil-related phenomena include: frost action, run-on, run-off, salt-affected soils, and clods.
Frost Action
Soils subject to frost action resulting in frost heaving are of particular concern to outdoor arenas in temperate climates. Problem areas include not only the northern states, but also the high elevation areas of the western states. Frost heaving can fracture a base and, over time, can bring gravel and stones to the surface. Because they frequently have gravelly/stony subsoils, mountain soils in particular are subject to gravel and stones thrust up to the surface. Those soils with a higher silt content have a higher potential for frost heave.
Run-on
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If your arena is located in a lower position than the surrounding area, it could be subject to periodic coverage with water from the surrounding slopes. Flood plain locations should be avoided. These can be fairly well identified based on their position and soil type; often they are supporting wet-land vegetation
Run-off
When water accumulates on an outdoor arena with a definite slope of greater than one percent, it will run off, creating rills where the footing has been removed.
Salt-affected Soils
Salt-affected soils are found mostly in the arid and semiarid zones of the United States. In addition, U.S. coastal areas are frequently salt-affected. Wherever these soils are found, drainage, water movement into the soil, dust management, and general performance may be challenging.
Clods
When soils having a particular combination of silt and clay content are subjected to compaction followed by the use of certain tillage equipment, the result is a surface littered with irregular clumps of soil known as clods, which range in size up to ten inches in diameter. Clods are more apt to be formed when the moisture content is too high for a dirt arena to be worked.
VARIABILITY OF SOILS
Soils can and do change quite abruptly within a short distance. For this reason, the site that you have selected for your arena needs to be sampled on a grid basis, with samples observed to a depth of at least eighteen inches, to be sure you have essentially the same soil material throughout. Sample spacing can he made every seven to ten feet. This will pick up any contrasting conditions regarding texture and drainage, which will determine whether the site is suitable or you need to look for another. In some cases, the Soil Survey Report will be in sufficient detail, giving one designated soil type on your property. You can then read the characteristics and qualities of the soil in question. While the report will not rate the soil for suitability for arenas, a soil rated as Class I for cropland could be very well suited for an arena. Your county Natural Resources Conservation person might work with you on this decision.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Soil was one of the first building materials used by mankind. Primitive man built his shelters in and on this readily available material. In fact, the most common building materials in parts of Africa and Asia today are certain types of soil. The problem with soil as a building material, whether for an arena in the United States or a family home in the tropics, is in its lack of uniformity. Soils have varied origins (differences in parent materials) and are likely to be of a very heterogeneous composition. For this reason, soil-sampling techniques and testing procedures can do much to eliminate the guesswork and resultant disappointment.
The following are points to consider:
· Soils don’t just happen; they have a certain composition and behavior depending on the material(s) from which they were formed.
· Most soils vary considerably with increasing depth, with the better soil material being near or at the surface. With increasing depth, the soil usually becomes less desirable for footing due to the higher clay content, but it may be suitable for a base.
· Improving the condition of soil materials by the addition of another material is called soil modification. For example, sand may be added to loosen up a tight clay soil. Depending on the degree of change needed and the cost and availability of the material to be added, this may or may not be cost-effective.
· Most mapped soils will be labeled as to drainage class. This implies, among other things, the depth to a water table and whether or not the downward movement of water is slow or rapid. “We
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