EP3763876A1 - Riding surface and method for constructing a riding surface - Google Patents

Abstract

A riding surface with a tread layer and a mat arranged between the floor and the tread layer, with drip hoses for watering the tread layer being embedded in the mat, preferably in grooves on the side of the mat facing the tread layer.

Description

The present invention relates to a waterable riding surface and a method for its construction.

From practice, riding surfaces and systems for irrigation of riding surfaces are known in the most varied of forms, both for the open riding arena and for the riding hall. In particular, a large number of soils and systems are known, including with so-called underfloor irrigation, which are intended to ensure that the space is evenly moistened. Drip pipes or hoses and floor grids above to protect the drip hoses against damage from horse hooves are laid out on the mostly grown soil. The floor grids are usually grid-shaped so that the sand of the footing can be watered and, if necessary, drained. For this purpose, the floor grids are filled with sand and completely covered to form a footing. Due to the physical properties of the sand, in particular due to the capillary action of the sand particles, moisture is transported from the drip hoses up into the footing. By using such a riding surface with integrated humidification, the step resistance is increased while largely eliminating the risk of slipping for the horse. Furthermore, the time for separate moistening of the soil is saved. Textile or fleece chaff are regularly added to the sand to loosen up the soil.

A major problem of the riding surfaces known from practice is that the drip hoses are laid out directly on the ground and a not inconsiderable part of the amount of water does not moisten the footing, but rather seeps away or runs off into the ground. Furthermore, the recesses in the mostly thick and open floor grids for watering and draining the riding surfaces are extremely large. Since the sand and aggregates of the footing also have to be filled into the ground grid, an extremely large amount of sand is required. In other words, the volume of the known floor grids to be filled with sand is extremely large. This increases the amount of sand required. Another disadvantage of the known riding surfaces is their construction, which is quite complex to produce, especially when they are designed with a large area. In addition, the handling during storage, construction and transport of the riding surface - depending on the size and area - is quite cumbersome. Another disadvantage is that to achieve a shock-absorbing floor or suitable damping Appropriate additives, for example in the form of textile or fleece chaff, are usually required to protect the horses, but their effect alone is insufficient.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of offering a riding surface which, with a robust and simple construction, ensures optimal watering and drainage while largely eliminating the risk of injury to the horse. In addition, an improved method for the construction of a corresponding riding surface is to be specified.

The above object is achieved with regard to the riding surface by the features of claim 1. According to this, the riding surface has a tread layer, a mat arranged between the floor and the tread layer and drip hoses, the drip hoses being embedded in the mat, preferably in grooves on the side of the mat facing the tread layer.

With regard to the method according to the invention, the underlying object is achieved by the features of claim 13, namely in that the drip hoses are embedded in the mat, preferably in grooves on the side of the mat facing the footing, preferably on site.

According to the invention, it has been recognized that it is particularly advantageous not to arrange the drip hoses on the floor and to protect them by means of an elaborate and voluminous floor grid, which in turn is used to fill and cover the floor grid with a large volume of sand and dampening Supplements need to be replenished. On the contrary, the invention takes a completely different approach, namely laying a mat directly or indirectly on the floor and arranging the drip hoses on the side of the mat facing the footing. In concrete terms, the drip hoses can be embedded in grooves on the side of the mat facing the footing. Due to the grooves, the drip hoses are firmly arranged on the mat and largely protected from damage, while at the same time unwanted seepage of the water coming from the drip hoses can be avoided. The drip tubes can be associated with the mat, for example by means of a press fit. It may be necessary to embed the drip tubes in the mat with a step or a light hammer blow or to pinch. A latching mechanism and / or tongue-like and / or tongue-like features are also conceivable. The footing is thus directly or indirectly on the mat and the drip tubes. This makes it possible to achieve an extremely thin riding surface and yet a robust structure. The required volume of the footing can be reduced to a minimum. Any risk of injury due to deep recesses in floor grids is also eliminated. The drip hoses have a fixed position because they are embedded in the grooves of the mat and cannot easily slip during the construction of the riding surface or over time. Another advantage is that due to the simple structure, in particular due to the predefined embedding of the drip hoses, the riding surface can also be built without special specialist knowledge.

Consequently, with the riding surface according to the invention and with the method for building a riding surface according to the invention, a possibility is given of ensuring optimal watering and drainage with a robust and simple construction while largely eliminating the risk of injury to the horse.

In an advantageous manner, the mat is produced at least in some areas from a water-permeable and / or soft and / or damping material. PU foam rubber, which is preferably pressed and / or baked under the action of heat, is particularly suitable for this. It is also conceivable to use rubber granulate, in particular from recycled car tires. The mat can be built as solid as possible or have a lattice structure. The formation of the mat from a soft or cushioning material is particularly health-promoting and gentle for horses and can save the addition of soft additives in the sand. A certain degree of water permeability prevents water from accumulating and the riding surface from becoming too wet. With a mat that is largely closed in itself, the unwanted seepage of the water used for moistening is avoided, or at least reduced. As an alternative or in addition, the mat is at least partially made of a solid material, preferably PVC. This ensures increased stability and increased protection of the drip hoses. Furthermore, the use of a solid material has the advantage of a certain pressure distribution. It is conceivable that the mat is at least partially made of water-impermeable material is made, in particular in the area of the grooves, in order to largely avoid unwanted seepage of the water emerging from the drip hoses. The mat can be made extremely thin, namely just thick enough to ensure protection and possibly pressure distribution.

Depending on the material and production method of the mat, it is advantageous for storage, transport and handling if the mat can be made available as rolled goods. It is also conceivable that individual mat elements can be plugged together on site and / or expanded as required. Thus, the riding surface can be expanded to any area, namely by stringing together several mats and, if necessary, intermediate mats. For this purpose, connection areas for connecting a further mat could be formed at the ends of the mat. A simple juxtaposition and / or overlapping of several mats is also conceivable. An external mat could be cut to size. Even a thickness of 25 mm to 30 mm for the mat is sufficient to embed the drip tubes in the mat and to form a stable and cushioning base for the footing. Extremely high floor structures, as they are known from practice when building riding surfaces with floor grids, can be omitted.

It is of further advantage if the grooves are milled into the mat and / or, when the mat is produced, in particular, are produced by injection molding. The width and depth of the grooves can be adapted to the hoses used. The grooves for embedding the drip tubes preferably run at regular intervals and parallel to one another. Distances of 30 cm between the drip tubes are conceivable.

Particularly in the case of water-permeable mats, some of the water emerging from the drip hoses can seep through the mat and remains unused for irrigation. In order to avoid this, at least the surface of the grooves oriented towards the footing is advantageously largely water-impermeable, in particular coated with a water-impermeable material and / or the grooves are formed in a water-impermeable mat or at least a water-impermeable area of the mat.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the mat has passages, preferably holes, at certain intervals, which allow water to penetrate and / or largely prevent larger amounts of sand and other particles from penetrating. In this way, drainage can be guaranteed, for example in heavy rain, without losing any water that comes out of the drip hoses. At the same time, ideally, almost no sand seeps from the footing to below the mat. A round and / or square configuration of the passages is conceivable. It is conceivable that the passages are arranged linearly and parallel to the grooves and have a certain distance from the grooves so that the water coming out of the drip hoses does not seep through the passages, at least as far as possible.

In order to prevent the sand of the footing from slipping, it is particularly advantageous if the mat has a structure, in particular a mesh or lattice structure, at least on its side facing the footing. A corresponding structure of the surface of the mat can also prevent the water escaping from the drip hoses from seeping through the passages, for example by arranging the grooves and the passages in different depressions or at least partially separated from one another by elevations of a structure. It is important here that the water coming from the drip hoses does not seep back directly through the passages, but rather gets into the footing. The passageways are intended to prevent excessive amounts of water from being in the footing and to drain it underneath the separating layer.

In a further advantageous manner, the drip hoses, which are preferably made of plastic, have valves and / or membranes oriented towards the footing for watering the treadle floor. These are thus oriented upwards when the pedal hoses are embedded. This enables ideal transport of moisture to the footing. A diameter of the drip tubes of 16 mm is conceivable. The drip tubes are preferably arranged at regular intervals, for example parallel to one another.

For increased stabilization and increased protection of the pedal hoses, as well as for pressure distribution, a preferably one between the mat and the tread layer is conceivable to arrange an intermediate mat made of PVC and / or an intermediate net. An intermediate mat or an intermediate net can advantageously have passages, preferably holes, at certain intervals. These passages can allow water to penetrate from the drip hoses to the footing, but prevent larger quantities of sand and other particles from penetrating from the footing to below the intermediate layer. An optimal distance between the individual passages and, if necessary, membranes of an intermediate mat for watering the footing is 10 cm. In order to prevent the sand of the footing from slipping, it is conceivable that the intermediate mat has a structure, in particular a mesh or lattice structure, at least on its side facing the footing. The intermediate mat can be made extremely thin, namely just thick enough to ensure protection and, if necessary, pressure distribution.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the mat is arranged directly or indirectly on natural ground and / or a drainage system, in particular gravel. Despite its small thickness, the mat can be designed to be so robust that it can withstand a rough surface and even compensate for certain unevenness in the floor.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the mat is arranged on natural soil and / or on a drainage system, in particular gravel. Despite its small thickness, the mat can be designed to be so robust that it can withstand a rough surface and even compensate for certain unevenness in the floor.

The footing advantageously consists essentially of sand plus aggregates, in particular of geotextile, and rests directly or indirectly on the mat and the drip hoses. It is not necessary to fill and cover a large-volume floor grid here. The footing layer advantageously has a thickness of 10 to 12 cm in order to ensure optimal moistening of the footing layer and a reduced risk of injury to horse and rider.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that a protective mat is arranged below the mat, which is made of a water-permeable and / or soft and / or damping material. PU foam rubber, which is preferably pressed and / or baked under the action of heat, is particularly suitable for this. As well The use of rubber granulate, in particular from recycled car tires, is conceivable. The protective mat can be built as solid as possible or have a lattice structure. The formation of the protective mat from a soft or cushioning material is particularly health-promoting and gentle on horses and can save the addition of soft additives in the sand to a certain extent.

According to the constitution, it is conceivable that moisture sensors / sensors are integrated in the riding surface, in particular in the footing, which measure the moisture in the footing. A controller can regulate the amount and / or the time of the water supply via the drip hoses.

The riding surface according to the invention and the method according to the invention for the construction of such a riding surface are suitable for all areas of application, including riding arenas, outdoor riding arenas and racing tracks. Even excessive curves, such as in racing tracks, can be realized with the riding surface according to the invention and the method according to the invention.

Fig. 1

in einer schematischen Ansicht ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel des Aufbaus eines erfindungsgemäßen Reitbodens.

Fig. 2

in einer schematischen Ansicht ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel des Aufbaus eines erfindungsgemäßen Reitbodens,

Fig. 3

in Explosionsansicht den Gegenstand aus Fig. 2 und

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht der Matte aus den Figuren 2 und 3.

There are now various possibilities for designing and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of two preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing. In connection with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching are also explained. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

in a schematic view a first embodiment of the structure of a riding surface according to the invention.

Fig. 2

in a schematic view a second embodiment of the structure of a riding surface according to the invention,

Fig. 3

the object in an exploded view Fig. 2 and

Fig. 4

a top view of the mat from FIGS Figures 2 and 3 .

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the structure of a riding surface according to the invention, with a tread layer 1, a mat 2 arranged between the floor and tread layer 1, here called lower mat 2, and drip hoses 3, which are inserted in grooves 4 on the side facing the tread layer 1 lower mat 2 are embedded.

The lower mat 2 is made of a water-permeable, soft and cushioning material, namely PU foam rubber. The cushioning property of the mat 2 is particularly beneficial to the health of the horses moving on the riding surface. It is also conceivable here to manufacture the lower mat 2 from rubber granules made from recycled car tires. The lower mat 2 can be provided as rolled goods, with the individual roller tracks of the lower mat 2 being pluggable and expandable as required. The thickness of the lower mat 2 is approximately 25 to 30 mm. She's on one in the Fig. 1 not shown, preferably grown soil and / or a drainage, for example gravel, can be arranged. Due to the water permeability of the lower mat 2, an optimal drainage of excess water can be realized. The soft yet stable material of the lower mat 2 provides an ideal base for the riding surface, even on coarser surfaces.

The drip hoses 3 are made of plastic and have valves 5 oriented towards the tread layer at regular intervals for watering the tread floor. The drip tubes can have a diameter of 16 mm and are embedded in the lower mat 2 in parallel tracks.

Above the lower mat 2 and the drip hoses 3, an intermediate mat 6 made of PVC is arranged to stabilize and protect the drip hoses 3 and to distribute pressure between the lower mat 2 and the tread layer 1. The intermediate mat 6 has several holes 7 arranged at a distance of 10 cm from one another. These holes 7 allow water to penetrate from below the intermediate mat 6 to the footing 1, but prevent larger amounts of sand and other particles from penetrating from the footing 1 to below the intermediate mat 6. On the side facing the footing 1 Intermediate mat 6, the intermediate mat 6 has a lattice structure that prevents the footing from slipping. Instead of an intermediate mat 6, an intermediate network is also conceivable.

The footing 1 consists essentially of sand plus aggregates, namely geotextile, and rests on the intermediate mat 6. It has a thickness of 10 to 12 cm.

Fig. 2 , 3 and 4th each show a schematic view of a second embodiment of a riding surface according to the invention, with a tread layer 1 and a mat 2 arranged between floor 8 and tread layer 1 in the sense of a separating mat, with drip hoses 3 in grooves 4 on the side of the mat 2 facing the tread layer 1 Irrigation of the footing 1 are embedded.

The mat 2 is made of a solid material, namely PVC, and can be plugged together from individual mat elements 2. The grooves 4 on the side of the mat 2 facing the footing layer 1 are milled into the mat 2 and each have a width and a depth of 18 mm. The grooves 4 and thus the drip hoses 3 are arranged parallel and at equal intervals from one another.

Between the drip tubes 3, square holes 7 are linearly and parallel to the drip tubes 3, which allow penetration of water and largely avoid penetration of larger amounts of sand and other particles. The holes 7 are dimensioned just so large that unwanted amounts of water seep into the footing, for example during heavy rain, but not the amount of water that emerges from the hoses 3 to irrigate the footing.

On its side facing the footing layer 1, the mat 2 has a lattice structure which, on the one hand, contributes to the stability of the mat 2 and, on the other hand, prevents water escaping unintentionally from the pedaling hoses 3 through the holes 7. In other words, the areas of the drip tubes 3 and those of the holes 7 are separated from one another at least to some extent by a lattice structure.

The drip hoses 3 are made of plastic and have valves 5 oriented towards the footing 1 at regular intervals for watering the footing 1. The drip hoses are dimensioned in such a way that they can ideally be embedded or clamped in the grooves.

The mat 2 is arranged on a natural ground 8, namely gravel. Due to the water permeability of the mat 2, an optimal drainage of excess water can be realized.

The footing 1 essentially consists of sand plus aggregates, namely geotextile, and rests on the mat 2. It has a thickness of 10 to 12 cm.

With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the riding surface according to the invention and the method for building a riding surface, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims to avoid repetition.

Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the above-described exemplary embodiments of the riding surface according to the invention and of the method for building a riding surface are only used to explain the teaching claimed, but do not restrict them to the exemplary embodiments.

List of reference symbols

1

Footing

2

(Lower) mat

3

Drip hoses

4th

Grooves

5

Valves

6th

Intermediate mat

7th

Holes

8th

Soil / gravel

Claims (13)

Riding surface, with a footing layer (1) and a mat (2) arranged between the ground and the footing layer (1), wherein in the mat (2), preferably in grooves (4) on the side of the mat (2) facing the footing layer (1) ), Drip hoses (3) for watering the footing are embedded. Riding surface according to claim 1, characterized in that the mat (2) is at least partially made of a water-permeable and / or soft and / or damping material, preferably made of PU foam rubber and / or rubber granulate, in particular made of recycled car tires, and / or a solid material, preferably made of PVC. Riding surface according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mat (2) can be provided as rolled goods and / or individual mat elements (2) can be plugged together. Riding surface according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the grooves (4) are milled into the mat (2) and / or, when the mat (2) is produced, are in particular produced by injection molding. Riding surface according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the grooves (4) are largely water-impermeable, in particular coated with a water-impermeable material and / or the grooves are formed in a water-impermeable material. Riding surface according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mat (2) has passages, preferably holes (7), which allow water to penetrate and / or largely prevent larger amounts of sand and other particles from penetrating. Riding surface according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mat (2) has a structure, in particular a mesh or lattice structure, at least on its side facing the footing layer (1). Riding surface according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the drip hoses (3) preferably made of plastic have valves and / or membranes (5) oriented towards the footing layer (1) for the water outlet. Riding surface according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an intermediate mat (6) and preferably made of PVC is used to stabilize and protect the drip hoses (3) and / or to distribute pressure between the mat (2) and the tread layer (1) / or an intermediate network is arranged. Riding surface according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the riding surface, in particular the mat (2), can be arranged on natural soil (8) and / or a drainage, in particular gravel (8). Riding surface according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the footing layer (1) consists essentially of sand plus aggregates, in particular of geotextile, and rests directly or indirectly on the mat (2) and the drip hoses (3). Riding surface according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a protective mat is arranged below the mat (2), which is made of a water-permeable and / or soft and / or damping material, preferably of PU foam rubber and / or rubber granules, in particular made from recycled car tires. Method for building a riding surface according to one of Claims 1 to 12, with a tread layer (1), a mat (2) arranged between the floor and the tread layer (1) and drip hoses (3), the drip hoses (3) in the mat (2 ), preferably in grooves (4) on the side of the mat (2) facing the footing layer (1).

Images