Summary
Footing Materials and Arena Construction Summary:
Ever since people started using riding arenas when working with their horses they were experimenting with the large variety of materials for the use as footing. In former times pure grass riding places were created, but soon one noticed that by constant riding on the hoof track the soil consolidated and with rainfalls it turned to a mud bath. People went searching for alternatives for grass footing and discovered the sand. Over years sand and arenas with sand – wood mixture were the standard. Some arena builders wanted to build something better and searched for new materials, which they found in plastic chaff. Since beginning of the 90's the first „new “arena footings were created with geo textile or felt chaffs in Germany. This new footing which was regarded very critically at first by equestrians, owners of stable and arenas, turned out to be the optimal footing for dressage and jumping in the last 10 years. Footing with felt and fibers proofed to be the most successful solution in Germany and internationally.
These footings are suitable for dressage and jumping as well as for therapeutic riding, round pens, lunging, Polo, horse race tracks, carriage events and in western pleasure riding and cutting.
Why do we have so many horses with lameness problems today?
Not very good horse keeping conditions, starting at birth up to the adult horse, contribute a large part to the fact that soft tissue problems can develop in grown up horses. To early starting of young horses and incorrect riding adds to that, as well as bad and/or wrong food, incorrect treatment of hooves and bad footing conditions while training the horse. The limbs are a very important part of a horse. If a horse cannot walk any longer, it is basically ("worthless") for the owner, since in the best case scenario it has to be left in the barn or the pasture, but riding is almost not possible anymore. In the worst case the euthanasia of the animal might be necessary.
The influence of the soil on the movement apparatus of the horse
As soon as a horse moves on the ground different forces impact the hoof. Shock is caused during the stance phase (Impact, loading and break over phase); shear force (propulsion) is caused during the swing phase. The strength of these forces depends on the weight and course of motion and the speed of the horses well as on the capabilities of the rider. The harder the ground the less it is able to absorb the impact phase and therefore the horses body has to absorb the concussion itself. If the ground is too soft, it'll strain his soft tissues - tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
The desired footing is able to absorb shock and gives your horse's feet a reliable solid platform from which to push off. The base anchors a top layer that absorbs much of his footfalls' concussion and provides traction he can depend on when changing direction or jumping, whereby the base also contributes to the buffering. Damage to the coffin and pastern joints as well as the ligaments and joints of the lower leg regions (carpal joint) to up to the shoulder joint often appear in connection with bad footing conditions. Pulled ligaments are often caused by uneven, soft or slippery surfaces. Especially turns are very straining for the horse’s joints. The height of the footing should be between 2 ½ and 5 inches, depending on requirements and riding discipline.
A good footing only really works with the right base layer.
Icon Sport Horse LLC, TN
Installation by Brian McNeil with
E=MC, LLC
http://www.icon-sporthorses.com
2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival
“Riders, trainers, and owners, alike are thrilled with the new GGT-footing in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Field and the Rost Arena. I love it, said Peter Pletcher when asked about the new footing in the hunter rings. As far as the footing goes, it is excellent, he continued.
