What Geotextile Membrane Is Best For My Horse Arena?

Why do I need a geotextile membrane in my horse arena?

The surface of an equestrian arena must be kept in good condition, with full separation maintained between the sand and its sub-layer. If the sand seeps into the sub-layer it will disappear over time, mixing with the other aggregate and blocking the drainage system under the arena, leaving a muddy, poorly-draining mess that will be unpleasant and dangerous for horses and riders.

How do geotextile membranes work in a horse arena?

A geotextile membrane is a layer of material placed between the layers of a horse arena floor. The membrane is either a woven or non-woven material and is generally differentiated by the colour of the material: white for non-woven and black for woven.

A Woven geotextile membrane is the cheaper of the two but doesn’t allow water to drain through the membrane. For this reason, a woven geotextile membrane is best laid under the first layer of aggregate and any land drainage system you may install, as the membrane will stabilise the ground while the drainage system removes any excess water.

Non-woven geotextile membrane allows water to pass through, so is suitable for wrapping around the pipes of a land drainage system to prevent fine particles from entering and clogging up the system. It is also used between the different layers of aggregate to prevent them from mixing and losing their effectiveness.

Which geotextile weight should I use for my horse arena?

As well as being woven or non-woven, geotextile membranes are manufactured in a range of fabric weights that are measured in grams per square metre (gsm). The hight the gsm rating, the thicker and stronger the membrane will be.

For a temporary riding area, a geotextile membrane with a weight of 100gsm is likely to be sufficient, but if you are constructing a permanent arena you will need a more durable membrane. A 200gsm membrane should be sufficient for light use, but we would recommend a minimum of 300gsm for a horse arena and increasing this to 500gsm if it is to be used heavily.

We hope you have found this information helpful and interesting. If you have any further questions, you are always welcome to call the friendly team of drainage experts at Drainfast on 01420 555600 or email [email protected].

Also, look out for more articles in our ongoing series of blog posts, bringing you useful information, insights, guides and tips on all things drainage!