| Author | Message | ||
     Beccy Smith |
thanks David. We currently have a 25m x 45m med coarse silica sand and rubber crumb which drains well and retains a decent amount of water. However i am very new to driving and am currently trying to seek help driving my pony. I have not actually put to yet and am worried my manege will be too small to walk around. What do you think? would i be better off starting in the paddock? The smallest is about an acre and is fairly square with post and rail! I am trying to sell my property and will be installing a bigger manege in the next one. Is 30 x 60 the best size for sports driving a single turnout? | ||
| David Taylor |
Hi We have had a surface consisting of silica sand - (must be very clean - add a handful to a glass of water shake it well and after ten minutes or so the water should be reasonably clear and the solids all settled.)- and chopped Teran, which is the same material that the membranes are made of. This laid over a Teran membrane over crushed limestone or crushed concrete over another Teran membrane and then well drained Hardcore will last for years. Although wood-fibre are an inexpensive alternative - whatever the drainage after three or four years it will break down and rot into a material like earth. That will then not drain, grow weeds well and be difficult top get rid of. Any hardcore beneath will be very difficult to separate and clean, especially if no membrane, so it is then grub it all up start again time. needs must but be warned! The surface we had is the same as that used indoors at Ardingley. it took about 6 to 8 weeks to settle and needed to get quite wet before settling. However I cannot now fault it. We had Roger French near Ashfield's, Dunmow to do our 30 by 60 metre manege and I cannot recommend hiom highly enough. it was quite a cost but is retained in the added value to the property and has been worth its weight in gold as far as using it is concerned. David Taylor | ||
| Beccy Smith |
What would members consider the minimum size for driving for schooling/exercise in a fenced manege for a single pony/cob (14.3hh)? I currently have a 2 wheeler and a 14hh pony but have a 14.3 youngster and plan to get a 4 wheeler in the future. | ||
| Janet Pilling |
Yes, you do. | ||
| Joanna Bassett |
Do you need planning for that? | ||
| Janet Pilling |
We have a wood grain surface which we had finished in September. It is a recycled product so very eco-friendly, it's cheap, and carriage wheels float on top rather than digging in like other surfaces. We are very pleased with the way it has stood up to the winter, rideable in some pretty hard frosts and no puddles! We do have good drains in so it means the surface doesn't hold the wet. Also you don't need a membrane - it can be laid straight on top of the hard core so even more economical. We have it to a depth of 6" and all it needs is a very light harrow and a roll occasionally. It is marketed by Giffords as Cushionride but can be bought cheaper from various other sources. | ||
| Michael Harris |
What would members consider to be the best menage surface for carriage driving? |