When planning a new outdoor arena build or renovation, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the top layer since that’s ultimately the most visible part. Premium sands and synthetic footing additives are exciting and can make a big difference in your horse’s performance and well-being on a day-to-day basis. However, it’s what’s underneath the surface that’s most important for…

Building an arena is one of the biggest investments a barn owner can make to improve his or her facility. Done correctly, an arena can provide incredible benefits to boarders and open the door to many other revenue generating ventures such as on-site shows, year-round lesson programs, horse camps, and professional clinics.On the other hand, insufficient time and effort spent…

Let’s start with the basics of what makes a good footing.A good footing supports the horse for the work being done and feels uniform throughout the ring.A poor footing, works against the horse, hindering performance while increasing the risk of injury and unnecessary wear-and-tear.Not all riding styles require the same footing characteristics but here we'll focus on evaluating footing for…

As a dressage rider, you want to be sure your ring has the right footing to suit your discipline’s unique needs. You’ve got some decent sand in your ring but it’s leaving something to be desired, especially as you train at higher levels. You’re ready to invest in your arena footing, but aren’t sure what exactly you’re looking for. Back…

The characteristics of your sand affects how it will respond under the horse's feet. Ultimately, a riding surface either supports injury prevention or promotes lameness. So you’re building or rehabbing a jumping arena and you want to be sure you have the right amount of footing. Since sand is popular and affordable for most riding rings, that’s your go-to. It’s…