It has become a very competitive market and people seem to do them for silly money and then the client complains that it doesn’t work properly!

A few tips.

Need a level site otherwise all the surface finishes up at the lowest point, over time. Make sure any fill areas are well compacted and the site is at least 1m bigger all around. For a 40 x 20 site, minimum size 42 x 22.

A geotextile membrane laid over site.

Need good drainage, a drain every 5m down the length of the school, about 150mm in the ground and covered in a free draining stone which will cover the whole site to a depth of approx 150mm. The stone needs to be something like 60 to 20mm but not single size as it needs to lock together a bit.

Erect fencing.

Roll stone to settle and cover with another layer of membrane with the overlaps either glued, stitched or welded. Fix membrane to kick boards with batten.

Spread surface to a compacted depth of 125mm. Do not drive on membrane when spreading surface. Drive on surface. Take great care spreading surface over membrane. Need a very good machine driver or else membrane will get torn and drainage stone gets mixed with surface.

Hope this is of some help. The important thing is that the drainage is good and that the surface you supply will drain. Beware of some surfaces and sands as they compact,i,e sea sand. The best sand is washed silica sand mixed with fibres/rubber etc. You can buy it from people like Equestrian Surfaces.