GB2415389A

GB2415389A - A surface for horse riding

Info

Publication number: GB2415389A
Application number: GB0414228A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Anthony West; Roderick Dennis Gifford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-25
Filing date: 2004-06-25
Publication date: 2005-12-28
Also published as: GB0414228D0

Abstract

A riding surface comprising a layer of solid particles 5,6 mixed with a grease or oil 7. Preferably the particles include wood, rubber and/or synthetic plastics material. Optionally the oil is mixed with a thickener such as clay, soap or particulate material. The surface can include a top layer of sand. The surface may include recycled lubricant oil. Optionally the grease can be thinned by mixing with a solvent or heating.

Description

SURFACES FOR HORSE RIDING

This invention relates to a surface suitable for horse riding.

Riding arenas with so called "all weather surfaces" are normally constructed using particles of sand, rubber, plastics, wood or a mixture of these. Whatever materials are used, a conventional arena will quickly lose its flat surface after a period of use. A depressed "track" usually forms, close to the perimeter of the arena, where the horses are most commonly ridden. The material forming the surface also tends to accumulate at the edges and corners of the arena.

Another problem associated with sand and wood-particle riding surfaces is that they become dusty when dry. The dust itself can be an inconvenience, particularly in indoor arenas. Also the horses' hooves sink into the dry surface, making athletic movement difficult. To avoid this, it is usually necessary to water the surface regularly. Some indoor arenas are provided with sprinkler systems for this purpose.

This invention arose with a view to addressing the problems described above.

According to this invention a riding surface comprises a layer of solid particles mixed with a grease or oil. - 1

It has been found that, by mixing wood chips or shreds, such as are produced by a conventional wood shredding machine, with conventional grease of the type used for lubrication of automotive bearings, a relatively stable composite is formed which, when spread and rolled, forms an excellent riding surface. The S adhesive nature of the grease ensures that the material remains in position so that tracks do not so readily form as in conventional arenas. Furthermore, the grease prevents the problem of dust, because all the particles are held together in a compact mass, and does not change its viscosity in hot weather conditions.

It is possible that the grease will be effective with any particulate material conventionally used in riding arenas such as rubber, plastics or sand. However it has an especially beneficial effect when used in combination with wood chips or shreds because the latter become impregnated by the grease, preserving them against rot, which ultimately limits the life of a wood-fbre arena.

When a mixture of wood and grease is used, it is preferable to add particles of rubber or plastics. This improves the riding quality and produces a more open structure allowing drainage of rainwater through the surface. The addition of rubber may however be less important where drainage is not a problem eg in indoor arenas or racetracks, the latter being sufficiently narrow for drainage not to present a problem. Rubber and wood particles are favoured materials because they are both readily available from reclaimed waste. - 2

In order to ensure proper mixing of the grease with the other ingredients of the composition, it has been found desirable to thin the grease. With woodchips, this also assists in their impregnation. Thinning can be achieved by the application of heat, but a high temperature is needed and an alternative or additional technique is to use a solvent, which is subsequently evaporated and reclaimed for future use.

The volume of grease is preferably between 30% and 50% of the volume of all the ingredients, as measured when unmixed. The optimum value is considered to be around 40%. When the mixture consists of rubber and wood, the volume of wood is preferably 50% to 80% of the sum of the rubber/wood volumes. A range of 60% to 75% is considered best, with the optimum being around 70%.

Grease is a mixture of oil (natural or synthetic) and a thickener, the latter being included to prevent the oil from dripping away when used in bearings.

Thickeners conventionally used include soap, particularly calcium based soap which withstands water and would therefore be more suitable for the present invention than the alternative sodium based soap sometimes used. Other soaps used in greases have bases of Lithium, aluminium, barium or strontium. Non soap thickeners which can be used include carbon black, silica gel and bentonite, a form of clay. When a thickener is present in grease used in the present invention, its effect on the ability of the oil to act as a lubricant is irrelevant and so it would be possible to use a special purpose grease containing - 3 i i any form of readily available thickener such as clays or even a fine particulate material such as sand. When a special purpose grease is used, the oil does not need to be pre-mixed with the thickener; it would be possible to mix all the ingredients in one operation, or to add the thickener last so as to assist in the mixing process. This latter possibility would avoid the need to use thinners or to heat the mixture during the mixing process.

Because the oil is not used for its lubricating properties, it is possible to use recycled oil.

A thin layer of sand, of about tom, may be beneficial to suppress any tendency of the composition to stick onto the horses' hooves. However this is not essential.

One way in which the invention may be used will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a vertical cross section through part of a riding arena constructed in accordance with the invention.

The illustrated arena is constructed as follows. Firstly a retaining wall 1 is constructed around the perimeter of the arena and a layer of stone 2 with drainage pipes 3 is laid down, covered with a layer of sand 2A and compacted.

A permeable membrane 4 is laid over the stone with the interposition of a sand - 4 layer (not shown) to provide a smooth bed for the membrane. The mixture, which is the subject of this invention, is then applied, followed by a light dusting of sand 7.

The mixture is made as follows, all quoted measurements being by volume.

Seven parts of wood chips 5, made by shredding scrap wooden pallets, are mixed with three parts of rubber granules 6, made by shredding scrap vehicle tyres.

Six parts of the resulting wood/rubber mixture are then placed in a mixing machine of a type conventionally used for mixing molasses with animal feed.

To this is added four parts of conventional automotive bearing grease 7 (indicated in black on the drawing. Thinners are added as required to ensure thorough mixing and penetration of the grease into the fibres of the wood. A dye can also be added at this stage if required, to give the mixture an attractive appearance.

When mixed, the composition is spread over the membrane 4, rolled flat and lightly dusted with sand 8.

After several years of use it is possible that the surface would benefit from a light spraying of diluted grease and a fresh dusting of sand.

It will be appreciated that many modifications to the illustrated design are possible within the scope of this invention. For example, the quantities of the ingredients can be varied, sand could be added to the mixture, and because of the binding effect of the grease many nonconventional materials which would blow away if used in conventional arenas, could be added to the mixture or used as a substitute for the wood and/or the rubber. However, it is believed that the formula which has been described will proved an excellent and stable riding surface, requiring very little maintenance, which remains effective in all weather conditions, and which provides good drainage as a result of an open structure created by the rubber granules.

Claims

1. A riding surface comprising a layer of solid particles mixed with a grease or oil.

2. A riding surface according to Claim 1 in which the solid particles include particles of wood.

3. A riding surface according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the solid particles include particles of rubber or synthetic plastics material.

4. A riding surface according to Claim 2 or 3 in which the wood is present in a proportion of between 50% and 80% by volume.

5. A riding surface according to Claim 4 in which the wood is present in a proportion of between 60% and 75% by volume.

6. A riding surface according to Claim 3 in which the rubber or plastics is present in a proportion of 20% and 50% by volume.

7. A riding surface according to Claim 6 in which the rubber or plastics is present in a proportion of 20% and 40% by volume. - 7

8. A riding surface according to any preceding Claim in which the grease is present in a proportion of between 30% and 50% by volume.

9. A riding surface according to any preceding Claim including an oil and a thickener mixed with the oil to form a grease.

10. A riding surface according to Claim 9 in which the thickener is a soap.

11. A riding surface according to Claim 9 in which the thickener is a clay.

12. A riding surface according to Claim 9 in which the thickener is a particulate material.

13 A riding surface according to any preceding Claim including recycled lubricating oil.

14. A riding surface according to any preceding Claim including a top layer of sand.

15. A composition for use as a riding surface comprising a mixture of wood particles and oil or grease - 8 q

16. A composition according to Claim 15 comprising particles of rubber or plastics.

17. A composition according to Claim 16 in which the constituents of the mixture are present in the proportions by volume of the unmixed ingredients Wood 60% to 75% Rubber 10% to 25% Grease 30 to 50%.

18 A composition according to any one of Claims 15 to 17 including an oil and a thickener mixed with the oil to form a grease.

19 A composition according to Claim 18 in which the thickener is a soap.

20. A composition according to Claim 18 in which the thickener is a clay.

21. A composition according to Claim 18 in which the thickener is a particulate material.

22. A composition according to any of Claims 15 to 21 including recycled lubricating oil.

23. A method of making a composition according to any one of Claims 15 to 21 in which a grease is thinned before mixing with the wood and then allowed to thicken.

S

24. A method according to Claim 23 in which the grease is thinned by mixing with a solvent.

25. A method according to Claim 23 in which the grease is thinned by heating.

26. A riding arena having a surface in accordance with Claim 1 and constructed substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. - 10