FOOTING FOR DRESSAGE AND JUMPING HORSES

A: The Element and Eclipse products were primarily designed to help fix inadequacies in commonly used sands for riding arenas.

Element is best for tightening loose, slippery sands whereas Eclipse will add more spring to a sand that already has decent stability but feels a little too flat.

Oasis, is designed to overall enhance an already good quality sand, resulting in a performance that can’t be beat by a less ideal sand formulation.

Our Element and Eclipse products are made from various strands of polymer fibers and geotextile patches. They are a by-product from different types of carpet and similar items  from the textile industry, but are NOT a recycled product! This is important to note as recycled products are much more difficult to regulate EXACTLY what is going into them and maintain consistent quality standards.

We have to be able to ensure that every bale we ship meets strict health and safety and quality standards.

Our fibers do not contain any organic materials that are subject to naturally breaking down over time.

The fibers will not naturally breakdown so their lifespan is determined by the overall wear-and-tear on the arena as well as how well the arena is maintained. 

The better you keep the fibers integrated into your sand, the longer they will last for. If you allow the arena to get very dry for long periods of time, your fibers will be more likely to rise to the surface where they are more susceptible to displacement by the wind or being tracked out of the arena for example.

You will of course gradually lose some footing in the horses’ feet and on your maintenance equipment, but this will only become noticeable after a long period of time. 

The average arena finds it beneficial to refresh a portion of their sand and fibers after about 5 years. If your sand was more worn to begin with or you live in a particularly harsh climate, your arena may need to be refreshed sooner.

Arenas utilizing a very durable silica sand can expect a 10+ year lifespan out of their footing.

A: Yes, TruTex fibers were designed to fix common problems with arena sand such as being too loose and slick or too hard and compact. They can also be used to overall enhance a good quality sand.

A: TruTex fibers work with a wide variety of sands up to 1mm in size but ideally between 0.075mm and 0.6mm for best results.

Element helps to stabilize loose sands like a Mason or Concrete sand and Eclipse adds more spring to sands that already have a reasonable level of stability such as stone sands or those prone to compaction.

A sub-angular silica sand will be the most durable and longest lasting sand and should be paired with TruTex Oasis.

If you’re not sure what you need for your footing, we offer a free sand analysis and evaluation and can consult with you on the best solutions for your arena.

A: Yes! More than 70% of our clients choose to self-install their footing following our step-by-step video guide.

Even with a lower rate of fibers than the recommended amount, you will still notice some improvement in your riding surface. Just know that you will not get the best possible results with a lesser amount. You can always start with fewer fibers and then add more to supplement later if desired.

No Problem! 

Orders of 16,000lbs or less will ship via LTL freight and the truck will be equipped with a lift-gate to get the bales to the ground. However, you are responsible for moving the bales from the unloading site to your arena or staging site. 

Unless you have purchased a custom delivery, unloading inside your property is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the individual driver. TruTex has no control over this.

Please read our detailed shipping and delivery information thoroughly before placing your order.

A : The fibers come in large, highly-compressed bales and are stacked on pallets for shipping. 

We stack up to 3 bales per pallet.

A : With the right tools, most trainers get their installation done in less than a day. 

If you get an early start, you can even be teaching lessons on it the same evening 😉

A : Yes, the fibers do need to be kept moist to work best. 

Outdoor arenas in wetter climates can often rely on rainfall for the majority of the year but it is a good idea to have a backup watering option available should you have an extended dry spell.

This article covers detailed information about watering your arena and best practices.

A : Having a drag or grooming tool that has the ability to both compress and roll the footing but also the option to work fairly deep and loosen up any compacted areas periodically and re-mix the sand particles is helpful to ensure long-term success.

See information on recommended arena groomers here.

A: Yes, for two reasons.

1. Because of the fibers’ superior ability to retain moisture, the footing will  remain moist for longer periods of time.
2. Because the horse will work more on top of the surface rather than creating deep tracks in the surface like other types of footing, you’re simply disturbing fewer sand particles that would be kicked up and turn into dust.

A : Oh yes!! TruTex fibers are an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor arenas.

A : Any surface that has a water content will freeze eventually, but it’s the water that is actually freezing, not the fibers.
We do find however, that the fibers seem to slow the rate of freezing a little and do make it easier to groom back to a rideable surface after a cold spell. 

A : We work with a number of experienced arena builders and contractors who offer a full range of services from complete design and construction to base repair, footing installation and everything in between.

Contact us to discuss your project requirements in more detail and get an estimate.

A : For most arenas we recommend starting with 2.5″ of sand. However, if you are doing higher-level jumping and have a premium footing blend then we suggest going 3″ to 4″ for greater shock absorption and energy return.

For a deeper sand depth it is also imperative that you are able to consistently maintain the appropriate moisture levels otherwise it will ride too deep.

A : Yes, the footing provides plenty of stability for horses playing. Be sure to clean up any manure to keep your footing in the best possible shape and to prevent dust caused by the breakdown of manure over time.