Types of Horse Arena Footing
The Different Types of Horse Arena Footing
Posted: November 19, 2009
There are a number of different types of horse arena footing just as there are different arena types for a variety of equine events. Depending on the needs of your horse while he performs, you will need to find the right materials to use in order to create the right surface. Some events require a surface with more give than that of others and knowing the qualities of each type of footing available can help you make the right choice for your equine needs.
Some of the qualities you need from the surface in a horse ring include consistency, traction, cushioning and support. Without the right qualities for the sport, footing can cause your horse to get injured or develop degenerative problems. Different types of materials used for arena surfaces include sand, dirt that is composed of clay and silt, stone dust, wood products, and rubber which is usually made from recycled tires. For some types of equine events, a mixture of two or more of these may be used to create the ideal surface with the needed characteristics.
Sand is one type of footing that is frequently used for a variety of equine settings including the horse ring, stable, or arena. While it can be an affordable choice in surfacing material that is also effective, it must be carefully selected and then maintained regularly to get the desired results. There are a variety of characteristics to consider when choosing sand so you will need to be familiar with each in order to choose the best type.
The particle size of sand ranges from 0.05 to 2.00mm and those materials containing a mixture of different sizes usually compact more easily and provide the best footing. C33 sand is considered a standard of mixed particle sizes. You must also consider the composition of the sand to determine if it will break down and make dust or remain firm when you use it for arena footing. Quartz is usually the desired mineral but you will sometimes find sand which is composed of softer minerals like feldspar or mica.
Even the shape of the sand matters if you are using it for arena footing for equine events where traction matters. Clear or round grains of sand will cause the hoof to roll while angular sand will lock together and form a more stable surface. You will also want to take the amount of impurities in the sand into consideration. Silt, clay and other organic materials that are mixed with the sand can increase the amount of dust the material produces.
Dirt that is composed of clay and silt is still a commonly used arena footing in some areas where western equine events take place. For barrel racers, a horse ring is nearly always surfaced with dirt. For this type of show, sand does nothing to prevent the horse from rolling causing a preference for a mixture of dirt and sand in many instances. Since different events require different characteristics from the footing, the ratio of sand to dirt can be varied greatly to increase or decrease the give from the surface.
Stone dust is another material that is used, sometimes in place of sand and at other times as a mixture with it. Stone dust will provide excellent traction and helps with drainage to prevent puddling in outdoor arenas. It requires regular maintenance in order to maintain a softer surface and can be combined with crumb rubber to preserve the resistance needed for some events.
You may choose wood alone for your arena footing but it is not recommended by itself. However, it can be mixed with sand to create an acceptable surface. Wood footing is available in a variety of forms and it provides the horse ring with moisture retention and will slow down the breakdown of sand particles to help you reduce the amount of dust produced.
While all of these products used for footing are considered to be primary materials, rubber is an additive that can add a little more bounce to stone dust and it prevents sand from shifting. Most rubber footing is made from recycled tires and is available in granular or chip form. If you are mixing the rubber material with sand that contains fine particles or stone dust, you will want to mix in granular material while chips are recommended for clean sand to add stability.
Where dust is an issue or where you would like to simply reduce the amount of watering necessary for your arena. Our ArenaClear soil conditioner is an excellent product which coats the footing particles, allowing moisture to surround particles and drives the moisture deep into the footing. The result is footing that remains moist for longer creating a loam-like surface. Our ArenaClear arena dust control solution is also compatible with our rubber arena footing.
Regardless of the primary materials you use for your arena footing, crumb rubber and ArenaClear soil conditioner are excellent additives to provide longer life and other important features needed indoor and outdoor equestrian arenas of all types.
Click here to see our rubber arena footing products.