Beware when buying sand for a sandschool. We were sold some sand by Cemex UK which is totally the wrong sand for a school. We told them we wanted silica sand for a sandschool and they sold us medium grade. This is useless when it is wet because it moves when you ride on it and even worse when it is dry as it rides too deep. We have since found out that we should have been supplied fine grade sand - this compacts well to give a safe riding surface. We have spent a lot of money on sand that is totally useless and not safe for the horses!!

Ouch, Fine grade sub-angular silica sand is a must and there are only a few places in the country where it can be obtained.

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Scott Chambers
Director
Mainland Aggregates Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 01234 831108
Fax: +44 (0) 1234 420 304
www.mainlandaggregates.co.uk

can you not put shredded tyres ontop of the sand x

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Adding rubber chip won't work as rubber has no effect on deep riding sand. The only thing you can do other than get rid of it is mix fibre with it to create a root like structure.

__________________
Scott Chambers
Director
Mainland Aggregates Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 01234 831108
Fax: +44 (0) 1234 420 304
www.mainlandaggregates.co.uk

Where is the fibre mentioned available from and what sort of quantity/cost are we looking at? We worked and saved jolly hard to get our school and did everything by the book until we were sold the wrong sand. We were recommended medium or course grain by the people we bought it from and were told by them that they had sold it to other people for use in schools. Do you think the fibre will definately help it would be awful to save up again and find we are throwing good money after bad!

We supply Equestrian Fibre through our website Mainland Aggregates Ltd - Quarried Aggregates - Recycled Aggregates and Decorative Aggregates Supplied and Delivered Nationwide! I would need to know the size of your arena in order to be able to calculate the quantity required. Fibre will certainly improve the surface but may not solve the problem completely.

__________________
Scott Chambers
Director
Mainland Aggregates Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 01234 831108
Fax: +44 (0) 1234 420 304
www.mainlandaggregates.co.uk

Our school is a standard size 20m x 40m.

You would need 16 bulk bags (8 tonnes). This would give you a coverage of 10kg per square metre. The fibre is laid on the surface and then rotavated/power harrowed into the sand to enable the sand and fibre to combine.

__________________
Scott Chambers
Director
Mainland Aggregates Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 01234 831108
Fax: +44 (0) 1234 420 304
www.mainlandaggregates.co.uk

Thanks. I will contact you via your website so get an approximate cost including VAT and delivery. In your opinion what do you think is the best route for us to go. The school is only used by my daughter and I. I am guessing it would be hughly expensive to have the current sand removed and replaced with the correct grade of sand!! I am so upset and frustrated that people can sell something that isn't fit for purpose.

In an ideal world I would have the sand out and start again. You will be amazed at the difference good sand makes. Where are you based? I am guessing at the south-east somewhere? Your location obviously effects the quality of sand that is available to you.

__________________
Scott Chambers
Director
Mainland Aggregates Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 01234 831108
Fax: +44 (0) 1234 420 304
www.mainlandaggregates.co.uk