Horse doesn't like deeper footing arena

[mydogs]

My barn has two rings with different footing. Outdoor ring is a deep sand-type footing, indoor has a sand/euro footing but not as deep as the outdoor. My horse does not like the outdoor footing; doesn’t go forward in all gaits (gaits are short and choppy), will buck in the canter, will transition down on his own, and overall “disobedient”. I can immediately walk to the indoor and everything is perfectly fine, no problems at all that were experienced in the outdoor. It has been like this since I’ve had him for the last year, no improvements.

I’m guessing it is a physical issue with the deeper footing making it harder for him to move. In my mind, I compare it to how running in the dry sandy part of the beach is harder than running on the wet part. There are plenty of other horses at my barn and those that I have ridden, that didn’t show any difference between the two rings when ridden.

Has anyone else had a horse who did not like deep footing arenas?

If it is muscle weakness, then I have a general idea of how I would go about strength training. I would hate to cause more discomfort if it is joint pain.

[Bluey]

Are you sure it is the footing, not something else, like the location, some odd smells, ghosts out there, who knows?

[Laylee]

My mare is the same way. She doesn’t like deep footing, refuses to go forward in it. She acts super cautious. I honestly don’t think its a bad thing. She has had a suspensory injury in the past, kind of protecting herself I guess. Strength-wise she is fine its just a weird preference she has is what I have found. I was worried at first and had her injury rechecked and her checked in general by my regular vet and my chiropractic vet, both came back with healthy just picky!
I just choose to work her some where else. She is kind of a princess and pea anyways about all things lol.

[JB]

The most likely causes are, as you said, it’s just harder work, but also some mild soft tissue injury that is “activated” by the deeper footing.

Assuming it’s just a fitness thing, work in the nicer footing, and spend a little time each day, or 3-5 days a week, doing a bit of conditioning work in the deeper footing. Walk and trot, lots of walking, no canter, for at least a month or so.

But I might di a bit more investigating to make sure it’s not a suspensory or muscular issue.

[SugarCubes]

Interesting. I have an outdoor at my house with sand footing, and my horse moved as you describe when it was first built. I had the contractor remove 1" of footing and now my horse moves forward with confidence. Before, he was a little tentative. Maybe it doesn’t feel as stable being deeper or like you said, it may just be “harder” to move.

[tazycat]

Maybe it makes her hurt somewhere? Not going forward and bucking are a sign something is hurting, or just plain disliking it.

[IPEsq]

Sometimes deep footing can behave kind of loose. DefInitely not as much grip as the felt stuff. Which can be good and bad for different reasons. I’d be suspicious of something NQR in the hind end if there is that much behavioral resistance.

I think most horses have preferences. Some really like the felt. Some grass. Some sand. But you may notice that in maybe more freedom of movement, or on the opposite side maybe something like grass over clay will bring out tender footedness in one horse that needs softer sand. But bucking and balking are too extreme IMO, and I suspect something hurts even if not as obvious as my foot sore example.

[mydogs]

@Bluey

Are you sure it is the footing, not something else, like the location, some odd smells, ghosts out there, who knows?

Pretty positive. He doesn’t act spooky or tries to look at things. He seems pretty calm, just really hesitates going forward.

[mydogs]

@JB

Assuming it’s just a fitness thing, work in the nicer footing, and spend a little time each day, or 3-5 days a week, doing a bit of conditioning work in the deeper footing. Walk and trot, lots of walking, no canter, for at least a month or so.

I was thinking of doing that. Starting with 5 mins of walking & slowly increasing it to 25 minutes. Then adding 2 minutes of trot & slowly increasing it to 10 minutes.

I’m thinking I’ll let him determine the pace in each gait for the first month and once we get to 25 mins of walking & 10 minutes of trotting, then I can ask him to move forward. This is how I would probably approach my own running routine.

Does this seem reasonable?

I wonder if it would be easier for him to start in hand or on the lunge line. This would also allow me to see how he is moving. But, then I don’t have as much of an influence to get him to use his hindend and not go on the forehand.

[mydogs]

Thanks everyone! While I don’t immediately think it is an injury since he hasn’t shown any signs of lameness anywhere else, I’m going to keep that in mind if things get worse or don’t improve.

[MysticOakRanch]

How deep is the footing? If it is too deep to be safe, I would respect your horse’s feelings. Overly deep footing can lead to soft tissue injuries. Some disciplines use footing that isn’t really safe for long term soundness. If the sand is 4 inches deep, I would avoid that arena, to be honest. Or only walk in it.

[Kyrabee]

My horse definitely struggles in the indoor where I board. It isn’t super deep but sufficient that she doesn’t like it. It also doesn’t help that she has little feet that just cut through the footing. I have kept her sessions short in there and also pick the less deep areas. Yes it is worked regularly but it’s configuration (oval) and the way it is worked makes the ends deeper than the middle. I also don’t do a lot of lateral work. I prefer to work outdoors and minimize my work in the indoor. When we are stuck inside, I just keep it basic and for exercise.

I think you you have a good plan. It doesn’t hurt them as long as they get gradually accustomed to it.

Susan

[goodhors]

@MysticOakRanch

How deep is the footing? If it is too deep to be safe, I would respect your horse’s feelings. Overly deep footing can lead to soft tissue injuries. Some disciplines use footing that isn’t really safe for long term soundness. If the sand is 4 inches deep, I would avoid that arena, to be honest. Or only walk in it.

I am with this. A great many arenas are too deep for the horses. Even a short work is exhausting on the soft tissues. Fatigue makes it easy to injure the horse. I would work horse for much SHORTER than normal times, in a deep footing arena. He is TELLING you he is having trouble, is uncomfortable there. I saw a horse permanently lamed because the owner kept working horse “to get over it”. Joint never came back again.

Along with deep is badly constructed footing layers, or if the footing is just deep going, lIke the old plowed field used to to wear horse out. Hoof is built to sink in an inch or two, no more, before toe comes down for pushoff on FIRM FOOTING into the next stride. Without a solid dirt to push off from, horse hoof sinking further into depths can easily hyper extend legs, joints, fatigue soft tissue.

Ask your good Farrier about footing being too deep, problems it causes to a horse leg. Western show folks are about the worst for deep footing, but other disciplines can be equally guilty. Go out and run on that footing yourself, before MAKING horse do it.

[mydogs]

@goodhors

I saw a horse permanently lamed because the owner kept working horse “to get over it”. Joint never came back again…

Go out and run on that footing yourself, before MAKING horse do it.

That is exactly my worry. While I want to tell myself that my horse “should” do as he is asked, I don’t want to make him hurt if that is why he is acting up.

I know I have a hard time sometimes just walking in that outdoor. There is only 1 other horse in the barn who doesn’t like the outdoor but everyone else seems to be fine.

[mydogs]

@MysticOakRanch

How deep is the footing? If it is too deep to be safe, I would respect your horse’s feelings. Overly deep footing can lead to soft tissue injuries. Some disciplines use footing that isn’t really safe for long term soundness. If the sand is 4 inches deep, I would avoid that arena, to be honest. Or only walk in it.

I’m not quite sure how deep it is. I could measure tonight, but not sure exactly how to measure.
Do I move the footing away from one spot to get to the base and then push everything back flat to see where it stops on the measuring tape?

[betsyk]

Absolutely, my horse hates deep sand, is ok with deeper FiBar footing and really prefers grass or a firmer surface. He’s an Arab and I make the analogy with spike heels on the beach! those small feet poke into the sand, rather than bigger flatter feet that scoop the sand. We wait for the few days each year when the sand is firm after a rain and otherwise avoid the outdoor arena.

[ActNatural]

I boarded at a reining barn for a year that had a huge gorgeous groomed outdoor arena and the footing was way too deep! I guess it’s good for sliding but not great for long-term soundness which probably explains why the reiners were so stiff and sore at a young age. I refused to work in it unless it rained and got hard! I got a lot of grief from the other riders that didn’t understand but whatev. My pony hated it. She had a suspensory strain a few years back so I didn’t want to chance it. Stayed in the indoor year round which wasn’t great either but better option if the two.

[cutter99]

When I was still showing cutting horses, my ring at home had sand in it that was exactly what we would show in, which is fairly deep. That being said, you have to work on your horse’s level of fitness for them to be able to move and work properly in it. I would start slow- lots of walking and bending, and gradually increasing in duration as well as speed. It won’t happen overnight. Working consistently about 5 days a week, you should see a difference in 6-8 weeks.

[MysticOakRanch]

@mydogs

I’m not quite sure how deep it is. I could measure tonight, but not sure exactly how to measure.
Do I move the footing away from one spot to get to the base and then push everything back flat to see where it stops on the measuring tape?

Basically, yes!

[leheath]

I had the same issue when the footing was too deep in the indoor arena at my boarding facility last winter. Deep footing is far more likely to cause long term injuries than hard footing, so I am far more wary of deep footing than hard, packed or even slick footing. Even when my horse tried to “be good” and go forward, the footing was uneven and shifting underneath us so one step deep, another not - it was difficult for me to walk in, let alone for a quadruped with a rider trying to move at speed! I would respect your horse’s opinion and don’t do more than walk work in the deep footing.