How to Prepare Your Equestrian Arena for Winter

As winter approaches, preparing your equestrian arena is important to keep it in top condition, ensuring safety for both horses and riders. Colder weather can introduce challenges such as freezing surfaces, poor drainage and even snow buildup.

Proper winter maintenance can help avoid issues and ensure your arena remains usable all year round.

Upgrade Your Arena Surface

Winter weather can cause surfaces to freeze, harden or become unsafe for horses. One of the best ways to prevent these issues is by upgrading to a more winter-resistant surface.

Top up the surface: Adding fresh material before winter ensures better shock absorption and minimises the risk of freezing.
Consider arena fibres for better performance: Combi-Pro Advanced Fibre is designed to add structure and stability to your surface. This helps to improve grip and reduces the likelihood of freezing. It also improves the longevity of your surface by preventing compaction.
Level the surface: A smooth,level surface promotes even drainage. This helps to reduce the risk of puddles and ice formation.

Improve Drainage Systems

Heavy rainfall and melting snow can overwhelm arenas with poor drainage. This leads to waterlogging and surface damage. It is important to ensure your drainage system is working efficiently.

Clear drainage channels: Check all drains around your arena are free from debris and functioning correctly.
Improve drainage with a permeable membrane: Installing a membrane layer under your arena surface. This allows water to filter through while keeping the top layer stable and dry.
Use horse arena fibres to improve drainage: Dual Stabiliser Fibre works with your surface to help prevent water pooling and ensure a safer more consistent surface year-round.

Keep your Arena Edges Clear

The edges of your equestrian arena are prone to collecting debris and excess water. This can lead to uneven surface and drainage issues during the winter.

Remove vegetation: Trim back any grass, weeds or plants growing along the arena edges. These can trap moisture and contribute to uneven terrain.
Rake and clean edges: Regularly clean the perimeter of your arena to remove dirt, leaves and debris. This helps to prevent water from gathering in the arena.

Regular Maintenance

Even in the winter, regular maintenance is important to keep your equestrian arena consistent and safe. Harrowing your surface redistributes materials, preventing compaction and maintaining a level surface.

Use an arena leveller: Harrowing your arena after rain or snow can help prevent surface unevenness. Regular levelling improves water drainage and keeps your surface in the best condition.
Monitor surface conditions: Regularly check for any signs of wear or damage. You should adjust your maintenance routine based on the weather conditions and arena use.

Prepare Your Equestrian Arena with Combi-Ride

Getting your arena ready for winter is all about preparation and consistent maintenance. By upgrading your surface with dual stabiliser fibre or combi-pro advanced fibre you can be all weather ready. Get in touch with the team at Combi-Ride and learn more on how we can help winter-proof your arena.