Benefits of Rubber Arena Footing
The Benefits of Rubber for Horse Arena Footing
Posted: November 20, 2009
Nothing is more important for getting the best performance from your horse than the arena footing he has to perform on. The ideal material will create a surface that will provide a stable area without dips or holes and doesn’t have too much give so that he varies from his pattern. At the same time, you want a material that has enough “give” to provide cushioning to prevent injury and also provide enough resistance to support him without allowing him to sink into the ground. For a number of events, rubber is the right choice of material to create the ideal arena footing for a number of equestrian events.
If your horse needs a firm grip to push off or needs enough give to slide, the right footing is key to getting the right results for the particular event you are participating in. While many people choose sand, dirt, or other primary materials, there are others who know the advantages of using additives to create a horse ring that will give them the results that matter to them. One of these additives is rubber.
Most of the rubber additives available are made from recycled tires or from industrial scrap rubber. It is used in addition to other types of footing materials to create the ideal surface for your needs in an equestrian arena for western events like barrel racing, cutting, roping, or for jumping. You can purchase rubber additives in the form of granulated product or as flat chips. As with any other material used for footing, this one should be used in moderation to provide you with the most effective amount of give and resistance.
When mixing with other types of arena footing, you will need to add a minimum of one pound of rubber per square foot in order to get the effects you are looking for. The amount of rubber used is dependent on personal preference and the material you are mixing with. The most common mix is 1" of rubber (2.33 lbs. / sqft.) to 2" of sand. It is also important that you don't use too much rubber which can create too much density in the surface. This can not only make it difficult, if not impossible, for the horse to penetrate the surface, but it may prevent your horse from maintaining his conditioning. You must find the right balance in order to create the footing that projects the cushioning characteristics of the material but doesn’t add so much bounce that it becomes a problem.
Granular recycled rubber works well with sand that is a mixture including fine granules as well as in stone dust. Combined, the two materials will create arena footing that provides less compaction. Flat pieces of rubber work with clean sand by interlocking to create a surface that is more stable.
Since the rubber footing additives are usually recycled, finding a supplier that guarantees no metal or other contaminants is essential. You should also consider the other materials that you will be using in the horse ring in order to create the footing. Don’t rely entirely on the rubber to provide you with the results you want. While the rubber is dust-free and lasts for a long time, the primary materials you mix it with are not.
The reason for using rubber additives in your horse ring is to add features that the other materials don’t offer. Whichever of the many equestrian disciplines your horse performs in, there are specific needs that you will be able to meet by providing the right surface made with the correct ratio of primary material to rubber additive. Each discipline has its own set of challenges and footing plays an important role in each one.
For barrel racing, cutting, and roping, the footing needs to be thicker to reduce the stress on the horse as it turns while reining requires a more stable footing. Jumping requires footing that will provide resistance for pushing off without being hard. Selecting the right ratio of rubber to primary materials will create a great surface that features all the benefits of each individual material.
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