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Discussion on Arena drags... Anyone with experience
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Member:
adriaa
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Posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 1:06 pm:
Hello, HA folks, I hope the summer is treating you all well.
After a long process my outdoor is finally usable, many $$$$
later, I think I laughed when someone mentioned 7-10K, now I am up there, mainly because I did not have a level area and had to create one.
Anyway I need to level the footing and also maintain it. The footing is too deep in spots and not enough in others. York rake didn't really do the trick, I know a chain harrow would be useless.
Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on the different drags out there? Handozer EQ, seems too cheap and light to work, KIser Edge, Arena rascal, the Riata is waaaay out of my price range, (except that the barn where I take lessons sometimes has one and I'm tempted to ask if I can borrow it), Arena Dragon, Drag Queen...
I'm getting confused....
TX
Adria
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Member:
cmatexas
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Posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 1:58 pm:
Adria,
I am married to an Ag Teacher, who is in charge of the Ag Mechanics program at their school. (We live in Texas). If you find a design that you like, one cheaper possibility is to contact your local FFA chapter and ask them if they do projects. They can build one for you. Many large chapters may already have plans on hand for what works in your area. You usually will have to pay for only the supplies. Labor is generally free on these projects, and they turn out REALLY great. Granted, it may take several weeks or months to get it done, but we have a HUGE one at home that does a great job, and the steel cost us around 500!!! Unfortunately, I can't tell you what type ours was......It just goes around and around, and makes the arena nice. 
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Member:
realtor
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Posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 2:40 pm:
We just bought an arena rascal for our riding club....great product! First we did disc the arena and then picked rocks. We now maintain it with the arena rascal and it is fabulous. We have the 6 foot one which pulls behind a quad or a truck. It is easy to use and I would definitely recommend it!
LeeAnn
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 2:41 pm:
I have something like the handozer only without the spikes in front .. but the rake with weights in the front.. Have to say I love it.. it levels my arena up nicely .. no it does not turn it up, i have to use the box on the tractor to do that so some extra laps around.. When i get new sand dumped in, i just make a ton of circles around and around to level it all out and i have a nice even arena.. Sometimes the lighter ones work well.
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 3:20 pm:
I find this a very confusing subject! I think a lot depends on the type of footing you have in your arena. I've been looking for something myself, but haven't decided on anything yet. So far, we just use the large pasture rake on the tractor, lifted so it barely grazes the sand, then smooth with a chain drag pulled behind the ATV. I've thought about one of those Arena Dragons or something similar, but have heard different reports on them. Some people seem to love them, and others hate them. I need to find out more about the pros and cons before buying, so I'll be following this thread with great interest.
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Member:
adriaa
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 7:38 am:
I don't think there is an FFA around here, in Vermont there are very few "real" farms anymore. There is a local Tech High School and I know they do projects so that might work out really well but it's summer... I was tending toward the Arena rascal plus they offer financing, I can handle a $100 a month easier than the $2000. They all look similar, do similar things all designed to rip then level. the Handozer 3 ft model is on sale for $299, it looks like it would work but weighs only 70 lbs compared to 400 or do for the larger ones which then jump up to $799+++
The most important thing I need it to do now is level it, I have spots where it is 7" deep and spots with 2" spots with 4" not good. Once I get it leveled then maintenance will be easy. I have attempted to do it by hand but I feel like I'm rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and give up.
Ann, what is the box on your tractor? A box blade? how does that work? Do you think your handozer would be able to level out large areas that are 7" or so deep and redistribute them?
What size is yours?
This is as bad as trying to decide on footing
They all offer risk free trial, but if you don't like it shipping it
back would be a real pain.
Adria
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 9:26 am:
Yes the box is the scrapper with teeth.. i adjust it so only the teeth penetrate the sand and then i go round and round to till it up.. Oh yes , my little drag similar to the handozer took care of piles of sand the trucker just dumped .. i just would go by and shave off a small bit do it over and over again.. it was a process but was done to my satisfaction ..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
remmi
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 12:15 pm:
Adria,
I have had an arena rascal for about a year now. I have sand footing. It works fantastic and after one year my arena is still perfectly level. Be sure to get the electric accuator so you can raise and lower the drag. That way you don't drag gravel into your arena and you can back into corners, etc. where sand piles up and move it back into the center of your arena.
The other nice thing about the arena rascal is it also functions as a grader - you can grade out your driveway potholes, dry lots, etc. and can also use it to prepare a seedbed. I have fibar in my outdoor paddock and it drags that well too.
Good luck.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 1:10 pm:
I like the sound of the Arena Rascal. I'm going to do some research on that one!
We use a small blade on the back of the little tractor to even out the arena. It does a good job. You need something else to "lift" and "fluff" the footing though.
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Member:
adriaa
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 9:09 pm:
Well I went out today and with my slip scoop that I have on my Steiner tractor and with the blade sort of tipped I managed to move some sand around pulling it backwards, it does look better. I suppose if I put some markers where it's uneven I could get it pretty level, but I still think I have too much sand anyway.
Maybe if I can get it level the Handozer might work for me, I am having a hard time justifying 2K for an arena drag for my 2 horses.
Sara, I think the Arena Rascal looks pretty good, it looks tough enough to do the job but not so big either.
Cheers
Adria
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