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What kind of footing and fencing for my outdoor horse arena?
It is clay / red dirt. It has been recently rated and I want sand but not sure if I should use anything other than sand. Also I need a good not to expensive fencing that I can use as a turnout also.
Answer: Since you've got clay, you need to assess your drainage during the wet months. A big downfall of many outdoor rings I've ridden in is they tend to get one spot that make a little lake when it rains or when the snow melts. Some places mix in gravel with the clay and overlay sand to help with drainage. I'd ask a contractor or even someone at a garden center about how to kep your ring from flooding and keep the sand layer from washing away.
The vinyl fencing (with or without the electric strip) isn't too expensive, and probably the best for pasture fencing. Or you could always go with the typical sturdy wood set-up. Lumber is fairly cheap.
