Is Your Sand Arena Letting You
& Your Horse Down?
Cojarec® bvba and Beta-Ride® Pro-Equestrian Services Ltd. working together to secure a safer environment for horse and rider, Inspired by the work of Dr Sarah Jane Hobbs University of Central Lancashire, and Danielle Holt MSc Thesis on sand and fibre arena surfaces.
BENEFITS
Greater Stability
Increased Surface Resilience
Energy Return for your Horse
Moisture Retention
Impact Cushioning
FEATURES
Root Structure To Sand like Grass
Improves Drainage
Retains Moisture
Insulating Properties
Reducing Freezing
ADVANTAGES
Reduced Maintenance
Eliminates Riding Loose & Deep
Energy Return for your Horse
Moisture Retention
Impact Cushioning
PRICING
Cofibre®
Approximately 3 bales per tonne
Beta-Ride®
Approximately 3 bales per tonne
Beta-Ride® +
Approximately 3 bales per tonne
Natural Sand
Sand grains vary from angular to round. The rounder the grain the less tightly the grains fit together. The more round the sand grain the more it will move and give less traction. Sub-Angular grains compact less than angular grains yet still allow good traction and drainage. When selecting natural sand, you need to request magnified pictures of the sand and select the most sub-angular available. Whilst fine Silica sand with particles ranging between 60 sieve and 200 sieve are the most desirable, cost and supplier location often exclude this option. Sand promoted as arena sand needs to have a graded range size of between 60 sieve and 200 sieve particles with about 7% below 200, to ensure this percentage use sub-angler sand, some sands have a clay content this type of sand, with a small clay content can be an advantage in retaining moisture in areas where the natural properties of the soil are free-draining or sandy.
Manufactured Sand
Crushed quarry stone called fines or Duff usually ranging between angular to sub-angular in shape with sizes 10 sieve to 50 sieve, the particles are sharp and will compact tightly. If used alone, being softer they break down into dust sooner and should be avoided if at all possible.
Existing Sand Arenas
Surfaces consisting of other types of sand benefit from using Beta-Ride®+, the addition of fibres will enhance the riding surface, providing stable footing and giving energy return for the horses.
Ordering Fibre
Guidance no. of bales required:
40 x 20 metre – 9 bales
60 x 20 metre – 12 bales
(bales approx. 300kgs.)
Recommended
For the best results in new arenas we recommend Cofibre® with sub-angular
Silica Sand (very fine angular grains for good compaction yet assisting drainage).
ANGULAR
SUB-ANGULAR
ROUND
Other Sub-Angular arena sands with a sieve size of less than 200 and greater than 60, we recommend Beta-Ride®
Less refined sands such as estuary dredged sand we recommend Beta-Ride® +
Composition / Information
Chemical description – Mixed plastics
Chemical family – Polyolefin, Polyester
No hazardous impurities or additives
Cofibre®
Polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene
Beta-Ride®
Polypropylene
Nylon
Polyester
Polypropylene
Beta-Ride® +
Polypropylene
Nylon
Polyester
Lycra
INSTALLATION
MIXING RATIO
MAINTENANCE
Fibre Properties & The Importance
of Moisture Content
With the ever increasing participation in horse sports the demand for artificial surfaces has increased dramatically, this consumer-led market has increased the number of manufacturers offering arena surfaces ten fold, sadly there are currently no regulations or guidelines on materials offered for sale, with performance and safety not featuring very highly with a large number of these manufacturers.
Cojarec Fibres are 100% new product manufactured to the highest
standards in Belgium meeting OVAM standards
-
PolypropylenePP
- Does not absorb Water
- Moisture regain 0.1%
- Less UV resistant
- Moderately resistant to stretching & shrinking
- Mildew & Rot resistant
- A
-
PolyesterPM
- Absorbs some water moisture
- Moisture regain 0.4-1.0%
- More UV resistant
- Resistant to stretching & shrinking
- Resists pilling
- Mildew & rot resistant
-
NylonPA
- Absorbs the most Water
- Moisture regain 4.0-8.0%
- Somewhat UV resistant
- Greater stretchability
- Shrink resistant
- Mildew & Rot resistant
-
Spandex (Lycra)SPX
- Absorbs some Water
- Moisture Regain 1.0-1.5%
- Highest UV Resistant
- Greatest stretchability up to 700%
- Shrinks only at extreme temperatures
- Mildew & Rot resistant
Copies of OVAM Certificate and Safety Data sheet available on request
Safety
The implementation of safety checklists for human sports may be responsible for the significant decrease in the number of injury related insurance claims recently made (Swan et al., 2009). The equine industry must be made aware of the positive impact the safety guidelines have had on the various human sport associations. The development of equine industry standards on surface properties that take into account the preferences of the rider, will ensure consistency among surfaces under a range of conditions, optimise performance and minimise the risk of injury (Setterbo et al., 2009).
Awareness must be raised on how factors such as moisture and the degree of compaction affect the hoof-surface interaction so the industry can strive for a surface that combines performance and consistency with safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you have decided which sand type you are using or what sand you have in your arena, Beta-Ride® Pro-Equestrian Surfaces will advise which fibre mix is best suited for your arena.
It matters because the properties in these fibres work in different ways when mixed with differing sand types, also if these fibre mixes contained any organic matter, in a very short time these organic materials would rot, break down and destroy the balance of your arena.
Cojarec fibres use no organic materials in their products neither do they contain any unknown materials, this enables Cojarec to control the correct amount of Polypropylene, Polyester, Nylon and Lycra in their different products.
Cojarec Fibres are cut to ensure consistency in the various fibres sizes they produce Cofibre®, Beta-Ride® and Beta-Ride®+.
Cojarec Fibres are 100% new product manufactured to the highest standards in Belgium meeting OVAM standards.
Send a small sample of your sand in a container to Beta-Ride® Pro-Equestrian Surfaces who will check this for you.
Cojarec Fibres can be installed using equipment hired from a DIY hire shop, Beta-Ride® Pro-Equestrian Surfaces are happy to give advice and useful tips in installing fibre into your arena.
Cojarec Fibres are delivered in circa 300kg bales on pallets, if you do not have access to mechanical handling equipment. If requested fibre can be delivered by a lorry equipped with a tail lift. However you will require help positioning the bales onto the arena before spreading and mixing into the sand.
Beta-Ride® Pro-Equestrian Surfaces do not install arena’s, however we work with our associate equestrian installers who we are happy to recommend.
Beta-Ride® only recommended Equestrian installers who are true professionals with years of experience installing quality fibre surfaces.
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