RIDING SURFACE AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING A RIDING SURFACE

Abstract

A riding surface, having a stepping layer and a mat arranged between the ground and the stepping layer, drip tubes for watering the stepping layer being embedded in the mat, preferably in grooves on the side of the mat facing the stepping layer.

Claims

1. A riding surface having a tread layer and a mat that is disposed between the ground and the tread layer, wherein the tread layer substantially comprises sand with aggregates, drip hoses for irrigating the tread layer are embedded in the mat in grooves formed on that side of the mat that faces the tread layer, wherein the mat is produced from a polymeric material, whereby a pressure distribution is ensured with the tread layer being positioned directly on the mat and the drip hoses.

2. The riding surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mat is formed of a solid PVC material.

3. The riding surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mat is provided as rolled goods, or as individual mat elements are capable of being snap-fitted to one another.

4. The riding surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooves are machined into the mat or are formed by injection-molding when producing the mat.

5. The riding surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooves are largely water-impermeable.

6. The riding surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mat has holes drain holes formed therein which are sized to permit a penetration by water but hinder penetration of comparatively large quantities of sand.

7. The riding surface as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an open net or mesh structure interposed between the tread layer and the mat to stabilize and protect the drip hoses.

8. The riding surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drip hoses are form of plastic.

9. The riding surface as claimed in claim 7, wherein the open net or mesh structure is formed from PVC.

10. The riding surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tread layer comprises sand, aggregates and a geotextile product that bears on the mat and the drip hoses.

11. A method for constructing a riding surface comprising: placing a mat on a ground surface, wherein the mat is produced from a solid polymeric material, whereby a pressure distribution is ensured, with a plurality of elongate grooves formed therein; installing a series of irrigation drip hoses in the elongate grooves for distributing irrigation; and forming a tread layer directly on top of the mat and the drip hoses in the elongate grooves, the tread layer comprising sand and aggregates that bears on the mat and the drip hoses.

12. The method for constructing a riding surface of claim 11, wherein the formed tread layer has a thickness of 10 to 12 cm.

13. The riding surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mat comprises a PU foam rubber material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 in a schematic view shows a first exemplary embodiment of the construction of a riding surface according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 in a schematic view shows a second exemplary embodiment of the construction of a riding surface according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 3 in an exploded view shows the subject matter from FIG. 2; and

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the mat from FIGS. 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 in a schematic view shows a first exemplary embodiment of the construction of a riding surface according to the invention, having a tread layer 1, a mat 2 that is disposed between the ground and the tread layer 1, here referred to as lower mat 2, and drip hoses 3 which are embedded in grooves 4 of that side of the lower mat 2 that faces the tread layer 1.

[0030] The lower mat 2 is produced from a water-permeable, soft and damping material, specifically from PU foam rubber. The damping property of the mat 2 is very particularly conducive to the health of the horses moving on the riding surface. The production of the lower mat 2 from rubber granules from recycled automobile tires is also conceivable here. The lower mat 2 is providable as rolled goods, wherein the individual rolled webs of the lower mat 2 are capable of being snap-fitted to one another and are extendable in an arbitrary manner. The thickness of the lower mat 2 is approximately 25 to 30 mm. Said lower mat 2 is capable of being disposed on a preferably native ground and/or a drainage, for example gravel (not shown in FIG. 1). An optimal outflow of excess water is implementable on account of the water permeability of the lower mat 2. The soft and nevertheless stable material of the lower mat 2 offers an ideal ground for the riding surface, even on comparatively rough soil.

[0031] The drip hoses 3 are produced from plastics material and at regular spacings have valves 5 that for irrigating the tread surface are oriented toward the tread layer. The drip hoses can have a diameter of 16 mm and are embedded in parallel webs in the lower mat 2.

[0032] An intermediate mat 6, produced from PVC, is disposed above the lower mat 2 and the drip hoses 3 in order to stabilize and protect the dripping hoses 3 as well as for distributing pressure between the lower mat 2 and the tread layer 1. The intermediate mat 6 has a plurality of holes 7 that are disposed at a mutual spacing of 10 cm. Said holes 7 permit a penetration of water from below the intermediate mat 6 to the tread layer 1, however avoid any penetration of comparatively large quantities of sand and other particles from the tread layer 1 to below the intermediate mat 6. The intermediate mat 6 on that side of the intermediate mat 6 that faces the tread layer 1 has a mesh structure which avoids any slippage of the tread layer. An intermediate net instead of the intermediate mat 6 is also conceivable.

[0033] The tread layer 1 is composed substantially of sand, besides aggregates, specifically of a geotextile product, and bears on the intermediate mat 6. Said tread layer 1 has a thickness of 10 to 12 cm.

[0034] FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show in each case in a schematic view a second exemplary embodiment of a riding surface according to the invention, having a tread layer 1 and a mat 2 that in the sense of a separation mat is disposed between the ground 8 and the tread layer 1, wherein drip hoses 3 for irrigating the tread layer 1 are embedded in grooves 4 on that side of the mat 2 that faces the tread layer 1.

[0035] The mat 2 is produced from a firm material, specifically from PVC, and is capable of being snap-fitted from individual mat elements 2. The grooves 4 on that side of the mat 2 that faces the tread layer 1 are machined into the mat 2 and have a width as well as a depth of in each case 18 mm. The grooves 4 and thus the drip hoses 3 are disposed so as to be mutually parallel and at equal mutual spacings.

[0036] Square holes 7 which permit a penetration of water and largely avoid any penetration of comparatively large quantities of sand and other particles are provided between the drip hoses 3 in a linear manner and so as to be parallel to the drip hoses 3. The holes 7 are dimensioned to be just of such size that unwanted quantities of water in the tread layer, for example in the event of heavy rain, seep away, but not that quantity of water that for irrigating the tread layer exits the tread hoses 3.

[0037] The mat 2 on that side thereof that faces the tread layer 1 has a mesh structure which contributes toward the stability of the mat 2, on the one hand, and prevents that water exiting in an unwanted manner from the tread hoses 3 seeps away through the holes 7. In other words, the regions of the drip hoses 3 and those of the holes 7 are at least in part mutually separated by a mesh structure.

[0038] The drip hoses 3 are produced from plastics material and, for irrigating the tread layer 1, at regular spacings have valves 5 which are oriented toward the tread layer 1. The drip hoses are dimensioned in such a manner that said drip hoses are ideally capable of being embedded or jammed, respectively, in the grooves.

[0039] The mat 2 is disposed on native ground 8, specifically gravel. An optimal outflow of excess water is implementable on account of the water permeability of the mat 2.

[0040] The tread layer 1 is composed substantially of sand, besides aggregates, specifically of a geotextile product, and bears on the mat 2. Said tread layer 1 has a thickness of 10 to 12 cm.

[0041] In order to avoid repetitions, reference in terms of further advantageous design embodiments of the riding surface according to the invention and of the method for constructing a riding surface is made to the general part of the description as well as to the appended claims.

[0042] It is finally to be expressly pointed out that the afore-described exemplary embodiments of the riding surface according to the invention and of the method for constructing a riding surface serve only for discussing the claimed teaching but do not limit said teaching to the exemplary embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0043] 1 Tread layer [0044] 2 (Lower) mat [0045] 3 Drip hoses [0046] 4 Grooves [0047] 5 Valves [0048] 6 Intermediate mat [0049] 7 Holes [0050] 8 Ground/gravel