Hi everyone.
I’m in the process of looking at purchasing new footing for our ring. Right now it is outdoor, with plans to turn it into a covered in the future. The dimensions are 150x200 and will be used mainly for hunter jumpers.
I was looking at doing the GGT Footing, but am open to other things and would love to hear people’s experiences.
Thanks!
I’ve been very happy with my footing from Martin Collins. It has held up great in my indoor for over 5 years and I will be using it in my outdoor as well. Dust free no watering. We jump and do dressage. I have a lot of clinics and use…very satisfied.
i have Ecotrack. https://martincollinsusa.com/
eta: I do also have the recommended drag from Martin Collins and love it. I think it is important for the footing. But 6 years in and my indoor is still fantastic. We re-leveled the ring once recently and do drag fairly often (few times a week).
I know some people have had good luck w fiber footing, but I am not one. I threw mine out after a year. Do a search on here and you will find a lot of different opinions. I have a mixture of limestone screenings and a DOT manufactured product. Everyone who has ridden on it, loves it. I actually learned of this mixture from a (now) friend who has MC in the indoor and this mixture in the outdoor. This person is very unhappy w MC but loves the outdoor. Good luck in your search!
When we did our huge covered, we did Attwood Equestrian Surfaces and adore it! While it’s expensive, it basically requires no maintenance. No water, just dragging when it’s used, and you do have to pick manure out of it.
Horses love it, and I find that the ones with arthritis or old injuries really do well on it, and their stride opens up a bit more because it absorbs some shock.
https://www.equestriansurfaces.com
Expensive, but worth every penny!
I have an arena at my house. It is fairly dry where I live and I can ride in it (usually) March to November. I have a washed concrete sand. I love it. Granted, I am the only one who uses the arena so there isn’t a lot of traffic. It can be a bit windy where I live and it has held up really well. I drag it maybe once a week and usually rarely water it. If I’m hosting clinics or friends over for a jump school, I drag/water more. It was not expensive and doesn’t require maintenance. Also doesn’t require watering (for me involves hoses and sprinklers spread around–doable but a PIA). Both big positives in my book.
I have a sand/fiber mix (FutureTrack) and love the riding surface. I’ve also ridden on Martin Collins footing and liked it a lot. Not a big fan of GGT.
Honestly, to me the best footing is the one that has outlasted all the others…sand. All the horses love it, you can treat it very easily to keep the dust down and it is easy easy easy to maintain. I know I’m an old grump about this but I wouldn’t do anything but sand. My kids have trashed the arena(and got in ALOT of trouble for it) and after a 45 min thorough drag sesh, it was as good as new! Horses can be turned out, no prob, as well. Its not as fancy and well branded as some of the other newer footings, but it’s proven to me. just my opinion.
2 Likes
Well, the best footing is well groomed grass. 
But that isn’t a useful arena for year round use. I have rubber footing and love it. I like fiber footing too, but rubber is so nice. Drains well, less dragging needed, and most importantly my 20 YO jumper loves it too.
I know other people dislike rubber but for me it works well.
