ARENA Groomer for Horse Arena Maintenance
The Turf Rake is a premium horse arena groomer that levels footing and removes stones and pebbles from arena footing. One tractor-towed pass rakes rock from the sand-and-soil mix and leaves a smooth, consistent riding surface. Here’s how the Turf Rake keeps the footing safe and level:
Deep, thorough Arena grooming
Using hundreds of offset raking tines, the TURF RAKE removes stones and rocks from 1/2 inch to 4 inches in diameter to ensure an even, safe footing. It can be easily adjusted to rake and clean from 1 inch to 4 inches deep into the soil.
Professional Groomed Finish
The optional finisher assembly at the rear of the machine glides over the cleaned area, leaving a smooth, groomed surface.
fastest arena groomer
Additionally, the TURF RAKE can remove stones and debris at a rapid rate of up to 3 acres/hr, making the maintenance of horse arenas easier than ever.
For more technical specifications and information, check the TURF RAKE specifications page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The TURF RAKE uses hundreds of offset tines that comb through the arena footing, pulling stones from 1 to 4 inches deep. Stones are carried up a perforated conveyor into a hopper, while footing material is returned to the surface. The optional Finisher attachment then smooths the surface behind the machine.
The TURF RAKE removes stones from 3/8 inches to 6 inches in diameter — targeting the hazard range that causes lameness and injury risk for horses, including stones brought up through footing by frost heaves.
The TURF RAKE is designed to return footing material to the surface while collecting only stones and solid debris. For specialty footing blends, consult our team to confirm the correct tine depth and screen settings before use.
The TURF RAKE is a tractor-towed implement that pairs with the compact utility tractors most equestrian facilities already own. Because arenas need tight turns and low ground pressure, we help you match the machine to your tractor’s horsepower, hitch, and hydraulics before purchase. Send our team your tractor model and arena dimensions and we will confirm compatibility.
For most facilities, yes. Hand-picking an arena is slow and never finished, because frost and hoof action keep pushing fresh stones up. The TURF RAKE extracts buried stones in one pass at up to three acres per hour, turning a multi-day crew job into a single session. Over a season, the labor it replaces typically outweighs its purchase cost for professional establishments.
Most facilities do a thorough stone-removal pass seasonally, then spot-treat when frost heaves or heavy use bring new rock to the surface. Outdoor arenas in freeze-thaw climates usually need a deep pass each spring; indoor arenas need it less often. You can also make lighter, more frequent passes to keep footing soft, safe, and level between deep sessions.
Yes. H. Barber & Sons manufactures the TURF RAKE in the United States and ships parts directly from the factory for domestic customers. International customers can get parts from our regional dealer network, who keep key parts in stock.
It does more than a drag. Drags and levelers only smooth the top of the footing; they cannot pull embedded stones out of the mix. The TURF RAKE removes the stones a drag leaves behind and, with the optional Finisher, levels the surface in the same pass. Many facilities still use a light drag between deep raking sessions for daily grooming.