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Affordable Horse Arena footing
by Footing First, Official Manufacturer, Supplier, and Installer of the Arena Footing for The National Horse Show in NY!
Affordable footing can be achieved. The main ingredient is quality sand which everyone is recognizing as Silica sand this is fabulous sand that is extremely hard and therefore extremely durable. With the correct grade of sand you will already be ahead. Then you can add a fiber there are many types of quality fiber on the market today and this fiber will help with stability and moisture retention in your arena, this means less water.
Good quality sand is only found in certain area’s throughout America. If the sand purchased is to fine then the arena will also become very firm, this will result in a unforgiving surface and may cause injury. However a firm arena is easily amended and can be done so for little cost. If you purchase a sand that is too coarse then the fiber will not be able to work at its full potential as the sand particle will be to large and heavy for the fiber to hold on to. This will create a deep and loose arena which no one will be happy with. When the sand is to coarse this is the most difficult to fix as you need to bring something to the arena that is going to bind the footing together.
Good quality sand and fiber can be achieved with the help of a good consultant in the footing world. The top horse shows are all changing to this type of footing. Sand and fiber arenas do not have to be Firm/ hard as some on the market depending on the type of fiber used and how much fiber will determine the firmness of your arena as will the type of sand as mentioned above.
Fiber can be added to most arenas it is fairly inexpensive again depending on which type. Fiber can be installed fairly easily with some good information. If you have an old arena, fiber will help rejuvenate that arena and you will get some more time out of the footing before you need to replace it. Fiber creates great stability and good cushion with out adding depth which is one of its best attributes.
Arena Owners usually keep adding sand to an arena, adding depth making it more difficult to maintain the arena and increases the chance for injury to our horse. Because fiber blends with the sand and creates a matrix within the sand similar to roots in turf, the sand is strengthened, the hoof will stay on the surface of the footing more consistently and this will create a much better riding arena.
FootingFirst,LLC has a variety of fiber offering many different applications. Some fiber providing more cushion and is better for an older arena, to the well known GGT fiber that is an excellent all round fiber. Creating wonderful stability and can improve most arenas.
FootingFirst has also created an Econo blend of silica sand and fiber this blend has been used at many facilities and again by staying with a good quality sand can keep the footing better. There are many ways to improve an arena but once the sand is pulveriased and has to be removed it is a large expensive. If the owner is advised well and good silica sand is available close by it is always best to try to purchase this. Not all silica sands are correct and you should seek some guidance.
