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ARENA CONDITION GUIDELINES

The most desirable Arena condition should provide a stable top-flooring (pan) of mild packed combination of dirt, sand, and/or clay. It should provide a loose pack top of 4"-6" that has a humidity level that allows the dirt to pack, and set. This can be determined by using your foot to scrape away the "Loose Pack top" and comparing the sub-floor to the top of the loose pack top. The sub Floor should be packed, but should move when kicked with the heel of your boot.

This method should be used to check the conditions in the area in the area of the Barrel Turns, Pole pattern turns, and Flag Race Turns. Also, it should be gauged approximately 20 feet in front of the roping chutes, where most headers will begin their left turn. It is also advisable to check this condition in front of the roping chutes, the entrance/ exit to the arena, and in front of the rough stock Chutes.

Rodeo Arenas must be worked with regard to contestant Load in a manner to provide the safest environment for all animals and contestants. Depending on the running order of the rodeo, the number of contestants entered in the respective events, and the environmental conditions, These guidelines can be modified.

Arena Director will select and work with two contestants at each specific rodeo (one roper and one speed event rider) to assist in coming to agreement on how to best follow these guidelines for that rodeo.

The Rodeo arena(s) is to be worked a minimum of three times during each performance day, and the warm up arena to be worked a minimum of one time during each performance, to include:

Water to improve the "packing ability" of the ground
Disk or Grade with a minimum of a 6" inch ripper and leveler.
Disk or grading at a maximum of 10 riders, (Hand Rakes and Finishers do not provide the quality of ground we consider to be safe)

The Rodeo Arena(s) is to be worked one time prior to each performance day to include:

Water to improve the "packing ability" of the ground
Disk or Grade with a minimum of a 6" inch ripper and leveler.

There are several pieces of equipment that can be used to provide the best Footing of ground in a rodeo Arena. The following are some recommendations.

Discs - Large round vertical discs that can dig deep into hard ground and pull the lower dirt to the surface.
Rippers - Have a row of large deep teeth that can be set to variable depths to rip through sub-floor.
Levelers -straight bar or rollers, that level the dirt on the surface of the arena.
Drags -(no, not drag queens) usually similar to a chain link fence, or rows of fine "tines" that can finish off the surface but do little to improve the quality of footing in an arena.


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