Never like mud!!!!! There is only one outdoor arena that I'll let Lil Lilly run if it's remotely wet. It has sugar sand which doesn't get slick. Even then I don't like it. She don't either. But it allows the horse to dig in rather than it's backend flyin out from under him.
That can happen tho in other arena's that aren't wet at all. It all goes back to what kinda sand and what kinda foundation the arena has. If it's done right, it is great ground. If not, wrecks can happen. There's one arena around here, down in Magnolia, I refuse to let her go there. too many horses go down. They have great payouts at their barrel races, but not worth gettin yourself or your horse hurt over. So we don't go to that one. Also has alot to do with who's workin the ground and if they know what they are doin.