Equestrian Arena Surfaces

FAQs

• How do I fix my arena that feels deep and uneven?

  Often, we can fix deep, uneven footing without having to completely replace your surface. At Combi-Ride, we do this with depth correction, redistribution and adding stabilising fibre, after we have assessed your arena to identify the root cause. 

• What can I do to stop my arena badly tracking and developing ruts and hollows?

  To stop your arena tracking and developing ruts and hollows we recommend our Dual Stabiliser Fibre or Pro-Advanced systems which can be added to your existing surface to bind it together and help prevent movement, without having to undertake a full rebuild. 

  Tracking is caused by your surface lacking lateral stability, meaning that the material is moving under load instead of staying in position.

• What do I do to stop my arena being slippery when wet and loose when dry?

  To stop your arena being slippery when wet or loose when dry we recommend our stabiliser fibre systems which will improve the cohesion of your surface, providing it with structure in wet conditions and reducing loose behaviour when dry.  

  A slippery surface when wet or loose when dry could indicate that your surface doesn’t have the necessary level of fibre or wax to hold it together through the changing conditions.

• Water is sitting on the arena surface after rain, is this a surface problem or a base problem?

  If you are experiencing water sitting on the arena surface it could be either a surface or base problem. Combi-Ride’s assessment process will check the surface and sub-base and then we can advise on what the issue is, ensuring you only pay for what’s needed.

• How do I stop my arena being so dusty?

  Solutions to stop your arena being so dusty include adding a dust-suppressing fibre, upgrading to a wax-treated surface or installing sub-surface irrigation. The Combi-Ride team will advise on the most suitable option for you. 

• Can I improve my arena without paying for a full replacement?

  Often, yes you can improve your arena without paying for a full replacement. A large amount of our arena projects are rejuvenations. At Combi-Ride, we will advise on what route is best for your situation. 

• How often does an arena surface need maintenance and what does that involve?

  Combi-Ride sand and fibre arena need routine harrowing and occasional water but not daily remedial work. If your arena demands more, our assessments will tell you why. 

• Is a Combi-Ride surface suitable for a livery yard with mixed disciplines and multiple daily users?

  Absolutely! Combi-Ride stabiliser fibre systems are made for high-use yards. Our Pro-Advanced and Dual Stabiliser Fibre Systems can handle heavy daily traffic across mixed disciplines. They will offer consistent performance and reduce maintenance burden on yard staff. 

• What does a Combi-Ride arena assessment involve?

  A Combi-Ride arena assessment includes our team visiting you, assessing depth, drainage, fibre content and sub-base condition. Following this, we will provide you with clear and honest recommendations and a cost breakdown. 

• What optional extras or upgrades are available?

  Optional extras or upgrades at Combi-Ride include sub-surface irrigation, wax treatment, LED lighting, post and rail or kick board installation and full membrane and drainage stone replacement if necessary. We will walk you through any extras worth considering during the assessment.

• What are the best arena surfaces for year-round use in the UK climate?

  The best arena surfaces for year-round use in the UK climate are sand and fibre. We find that this combination consistently outperforms plain sand or rubber-only surfaces in UK conditions. We recommend wax-treat surfaces or surfaces with sub-surface irrigation for commercial yards where consistency matters.

• How long does a surface upgrade take?

  Combi-Ride surface upgrades often take between one to two days. Standard fibre additions and relevels on a 20x30m is often completed in one day. Before we begin, we will give you a full timeline breakdown. 

• What are the benefits of stabiliser fibre?

  Stabiliser fibre offers many benefits such as acting as a structural mesh within your surface, binding sand particles together, reducing movement and improving moisture retention. Our Combi-Ride fibre systems are designed to work with our recommended sand specification, providing more consistent and longer lasting surfaces.

• What can I do to stop my arena freezing in winter?

  To stop your arena freezing we recommend fibre installation, depth correction or even a sub-surface irrigation system to solve this. Our assessments will identify where moisture management is breaking down. 

• How do I know if rejuvenation is genuinely better value than a new surface?

  To know if rejuvenation is better than a new surface look at your sub-base, if it is okay, rejuvenation will deliver performance with a lower cost. The Combi-Ride team will assess the entire system before making recommendations.