I’m looking to start getting quotes for an outdoor arena and the different footings make a difference in cost. I know they all have pros and cons. We’re Eventers but we only jump once a week if that. My focus is more on Dressage since A) that’ll make or break us for the win and B) I honestly like Dressage. I know sand is low impact and you should use manufactured sand for the rough edges (for traction), rubber is expensive and so forth, but I honestly don’t know much else. I’m in PA about an hour east of Harrisburg so we get some cold temps in the winter and the typical hot dry summers. I’m not sure about irrigation for dust. That’s something that I don’t think I’ll be able to do for a long time since I’m setting this farm up from scratch. Thanks in advance.
If you don’t ride too much during the middle of the day in the summer, black/dark colored rubber can be a really good choice for colder/rainier areas because it holds heat better and will dry up rain and melt ice and snow faster.
My personal favorite footing is the synthetic felts, like GGT, but that can get very expensive and usually if you shop around you can find rubber for a pretty decent price. Just make sure it is washed or playground quality so you don’t stain your horses feet.
I rode in a very nice arena that was probably 20% sand 80% rubber. It drained very well, was the only arena not frozen solid during the middle of the winter, gave a good bounce back, and required less dragging than a traditional arena. It was perfect for them since they wanted a low maintenance arena.
quote from Premier Equestrian footing information: “If you are not able to water your arena, Concrete Sand will help minimize dust, and a good angulation of the grains will help keep it stable underfoot.” Check the Premier Equestrian website for a lot of good information regarding what kind of sand to use for arena footing. Believe me, it’s important to get the correct kind of sand.
