Tractor DEAN is nationally known for his expertise in Arena Design, Construction or Equipment. Available in person or by phone, "Tractor Dean" Hendrickson has the knowledge and skill to design and/or build the arena of your dreams!
❓Designing or rebuilding your arena and need footing plus grooming gear from one source?
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GGT- Footing™ - Image 2 on InfoHorse.com
Whether you need to Design or Build your arena-- or are looking for Footings, Footing Additives, Arena Grooming Equipment or Arena Watering Equipment, we have it all! Water on Wheels, for even arena water saturation without puddles! Build a proper arena base, find the right additive, and keep your horse sound and confident.
GGT- Footing™by West Coast Footings See "Tractor Dean"Hendrickson for our amazing line of GGT Footing blends and all your maintenance needs at West Coast Footings!
West Coast Footings
Welcome to West Coast Footings, home to all your Arena needs! Whether you need to Design or Build your arena-- or are looking for Footings, Footing Additives, Arena Grooming Equipment or Arena Watering Equipment, we have it all! Water on Wheels, for even arena water saturation without puddles!
Build a proper arena base, find the right additive, and keep your horse sound and confident.
New Harrow designs - advancing arena grooming to a higher level!
Arena maintenance made easy with operator friendly Harrows with 100% adjustability for base protection.
Enjoy West Coast Footings parts division website for easy access to Replacement Harrow parts new and used Harrows, and more!
So, What Exactly Is The Big Deal About Footing?
Have you ever had all the pieces in place for a perfect ride your horse feels great, your energy is up—only to have your efforts disturbed by bad footing? Maybe it was too deep and soft, or flooded with puddles …another dangerous one is hard and concussive! You worried for your horse’s soundness and wondered whether you should risk riding in that environment....You made a mental note not to return to that facility or arena, unless changes were made!
You see, Footing can make or break the success of horse shows and trainers’ arenas and can actually affect the health and performance of your horse! Our high-quality textile additives and arena grooming equipment have proven successful in several shows and private farms! That is why horse show managers and farm owners looking for the best in footing often turn to GGT-Footing™, a high-quality geotextile material (either pre-blended with sand or blended on site) that provides consistent support, day after day.
About GGT Footing
For over 20 years GGT-Footing™ has been supplying equestrian arenas worldwide with our arena footing additives. GGT-Footing is used at world class facilities, Olympians, and private farms all over the world. We offer dust free footing, Butterfly Matting systems for riding arena base and we offer the arena conditioners to help keep your arena in top performance shape! Our mission is to offer protection of the Equine Athletes that give so much to their riders and owners. There are Pleasure, Dressage, Jumper, and Western arena blends available.
Why Do Horse Owners Need GGT (German Geo Textile) Footing?
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 the 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 proved to be the most successful solution in Germany and internationally.
What Riding Disciplines Benefit From GGT Footing?
Very simply-- ALL riding disciplines greatly benefit from GGT Footing! GGT Footing formulas are custom designed to be 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. We know what each discipline needs and we have proven formulas that bring out the best in your arena - and in your horse's performance! GGT Footing Perfect For Reining, Cutting, Cow-Horse, Barrel Racing and More! GGT Footing is the first footing in the Western sector that comes up to all Western riding disciplines, whether you practice Reining, Cutting, Pleasure, Cow-Horse, Barrel-Race, Trail. This footing has been especially developed and tested for the Western Riding Disciplines!
So far, the worldwide proved and tested footings with textile aggregates of the dressage and jumping sector have been a no-no for the Western equitation. It has been argued that the requirements for this equitation discipline vary too much. Now, GGT-Western will change this. Tested by Western Riders throughout the country, GGT Western has proven success!
Aren't All Textiles The Same As GGT?
NO! Not all textiles are created the same; some have fiberglass and other products in them. GGT- Footing ™ Company prides itself on its level of quality control and safety to horse and humans.
Call GGT Footing Today!
For over 20 years GGT-Footing™ has been supplying equestrian arenas worldwide with our arena footing additives. GGT-Footing is used at world class facilities and private farms all over the world. We offer dust free footing, Butterfly Matting systems for riding arena base and we offer the arena conditioners to help keep your arena in top performance shape! Our mission is to offer protection of the Equine Athletes that give so much to their riders and owners. Please call us today and tell us about Your arenas!
GGT-Footing equestrian arena with mountains built by West Coast Footings
What exactly is GGT-Footing™?
GGT-Footing™ is a textile-fiber footing additive engineered to be mixed into clean arena sand so the surface holds together, cushions the stride, and rebounds underfoot. The additive is a shredded geotextile that stabilizes loose sand particles much like roots binding soil, turning a shifting, dusty surface into a springy, turf-like ride. Once blended in, the footing resists packing down, retains moisture longer, and significantly reduces airborne dust. West Coast Footings supplies, installs, and maintains GGT-Footing™ across the West Coast and Southwest under the promise "Every Arena. Every Detail. Every Ride."
West Coast Footings arena and racetrack surface with palm trees
Who builds and installs it?
GGT-Footing™ is supplied and installed by West Coast Footings, a family-owned arena company based in Clovis, California 93619, reachable at (800) 585-7000. The business traces back to 1998, when John Dienhart set out to build arena equipment that could deliver proper cushioning and leveling, then partnered with Dean Hendrickson — the hands-on craftsman riders know as "Tractor Dean." When John retired, Dean took the reins, and West Coast Footings was formally established in 2012. With more than 25 years in arena footing, Tractor Dean personally oversees jobs from start to finish.
West Coast Footings founders John Dienhart and Dean Hendrickson
What is the additive made of?
The core of GGT-Footing™ is a shredded synthetic geotextile — non-toxic fabrics that do not rot and do not break down over time. These fibers are blended into the sand to create stability and elasticity, and GGT offers additional fiber additives for specific needs: extra stabilization fibers for looser sand types and elastic fibers that boost shock absorption for disciplines like jumping. Because the material is engineered fabric rather than tire crumb, it integrates cleanly into most clean equestrian sands and keeps performing season after season.
Tractor Dean Hendrickson grooming a horse arena
How does the footing system work?
Sand alone shifts, compacts, and throws dust; the geotextile fibers lock the grains together so the surface stays consistent and forgiving. GGT-Footing™ is formulated individually for each arena, tuned to the discipline and the needs of horse and rider, and West Coast Footings tunes blends for jumping, dressage, barrel racing, cutting, reining, polo, and more. The system depends on moisture: once the surface is wetted thoroughly, the goal is to maintain dampness from the top while harrowing, which produces a near-perfect, dust-controlled ride. For consistent saturation, West Coast Footings offers Water on Wheels for even arena watering without puddles.
What else does West Coast Footings handle?
Beyond the footing additive, West Coast Footings is a full-service arena partner: arena construction from the ground up, design and consultation, professional maintenance, show-ring prep, deep grooming, base repair, and laser leveling. They also provide harrow sales, parts, service, repair, and operator training so owners can groom their own surface correctly. As Tractor Dean's team frames it, hiring a professional arena consultant can prevent the real costs that follow a bad surface — vet bills, excessive water use, and frequent footing repairs.
How do you order or get a quote?
Riders and facility owners can reach West Coast Footings at (800) 585-7000 or email — Tractor Dean himself can be reached. The team serves equestrian facilities across the Southwest and West Coast and will walk you through designing or building an arena, selecting the right footing and additive, and keeping the surface sound. Whether you are starting with bare ground or upgrading tired sand, they handle base, footing, additives, watering, and grooming as one coordinated package.
Per West Coast Footings: GGT-Footing™ is a high-quality geotextile material (either pre-blended with sand or blended on site) that provides consistent support for arenas, day after day.
Per the company: see "Tractor Dean" Hendrickson at West Coast Footings for the GGT Footing blends and all arena maintenance needs.
What does West Coast Footings offer beyond GGT?
Per West Coast Footings: "home to all your Arena needs" — whether you need to DESIGN or BUILD your arena, or are looking for:
Footings + Footing Additives
Arena Grooming Equipment
Arena Watering Equipment — Water on Wheels for even arena water saturation without puddles
Harrows — new designs with 100% adjustability for base protection
Replacement Harrow parts — new and used Harrows
Why does footing matter so much — and what are the failure modes?
Per West Coast Footings: footing can make or break the success of horse shows and trainers' arenas — and can affect the health and performance of your horse.
Common arena footing failure modes:
Too deep and soft
Flooded with puddles
Hard and concussive
Per the company: high-quality textile additives and arena grooming equipment have proven successful in several shows and private farms — and that's why horse-show managers and farm owners often turn to GGT-Footing.
What is GGT — and how long has it been around?
Per the company: for over 20 years, GGT-Footing™ has been supplying equestrian arenas worldwide. GGT-Footing is used at world-class facilities, by Olympians, and at private farms all over the world.
The company offers:
Dust-free footing
Butterfly Matting systems for riding arena base
Arena conditioners to keep arenas in top performance shape
Mission: protection of equine athletes that give so much to their riders and owners.
Which arena disciplines are covered?
Per West Coast Footings: arena blends are available for:
Pleasure
Dressage
Jumper
Western
How is GGT-Footing different from West Coast Footings core arena services — same vendor?
Per West Coast Footings: GGT-Footing is the geotextile-additive product that integrates into West Coast Footings' broader arena design-and-build services. The same company offers:
Arena DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION — full project services
GGT-Footing™ — the German Geo Textil additive (this product)
Maintenance equipment — Harrows, Water on Wheels, etc.
Choose GGT-Footing™ if you have an arena and need premium footing material; choose the design-and-construction service if you're building from scratch.
How do I order?
Per West Coast Footings: Phone 800-585-7000, email [email protected], website https://www.westcoastfootings.com. Pricing as quoted is subject to change due to economic factors and material-market conditions — confirm current pricing with West Coast Footings directly when ordering.
What is GGT-Footing™?
GGT-Footing™ is a textile-fiber additive that is mixed into clean arena sand to give the surface structure, cushion, and rebound. Its core is a shredded synthetic geotextile that stabilizes sand particles, holds moisture to control dust, and keeps the footing from packing down. West Coast Footings supplies and installs it for arenas across the West Coast and Southwest.
Who makes and installs GGT-Footing™?
It is supplied and installed by West Coast Footings, a family-owned arena company in Clovis, California. The company is led by Dean Hendrickson, known to riders as 'Tractor Dean,' who personally oversees projects from start to finish. You can reach them at (800) 585-7000.
Who is Tractor Dean?
Tractor Dean is Dean Hendrickson, the hands-on owner of West Coast Footings. He earned the nickname for his personal, on-the-tractor involvement in every arena he builds and grooms. He partnered with founder John Dienhart starting in 1998 and took over the business when John retired, with West Coast Footings formally established in 2012.
What is GGT-Footing™ actually made of?
The basic additive is a shredded geotextile — synthetic fabric fibers that are non-toxic, do not rot, and do not break down over time. These fibers are blended into sand to lock the grains together and add elasticity. GGT also offers extra stabilization fibers for looser sands and elastic fibers that improve shock absorption for jumping.
How does adding fiber to sand improve footing?
The shredded geotextile binds loose sand grains much like roots holding soil together, so the surface stops shifting and compacting. The result is a springier, more turf-like ride that is easier to work and more forgiving on a horse's legs. It also reduces how often the arena needs to be dragged.
Does GGT-Footing™ help with dust?
Yes. The textile fibers absorb and hold water, keeping the sand damp longer and significantly reducing airborne dust. The key is to wet the surface thoroughly, then maintain moisture from the top while harrowing. Consistent watering is central to keeping the footing dust-free and performing well.
What is Water on Wheels?
Water on Wheels is West Coast Footings' arena watering solution designed for even water saturation without puddles. Because GGT-Footing™ relies on consistent moisture, uniform watering is essential to a good ride. The system helps owners distribute water evenly across the whole surface rather than soaking some spots and missing others.
Is GGT-Footing™ suitable for my discipline?
Yes — the footing is formulated individually for each arena based on the discipline and the needs of horse and rider. West Coast Footings tunes blends for dressage, hunter, jumper, barrel racing, cutting, cow horse, reining, polo, western, and even dog agility. Discipline-specific blends adjust the fiber mix for the stability or shock absorption that sport demands.
Will GGT-Footing™ work with my existing sand?
In most cases, yes. The geotextile additive is designed to integrate into clean equestrian sand and can be blended into your current footing. West Coast Footings can evaluate your sand type and recommend the right additive — including extra stabilization fibers if your sand is unstable. They also handle sand and additive mixing as part of their maintenance service.
How is the footing installed?
West Coast Footings supplies and installs the footing, blending the additive into the sand and grooming it to a consistent depth. The fibers integrate into the footing with normal dragging and harrowing. Because the company handles base, footing, and additive together, the surface is set up correctly from the ground up rather than patched together.
How long does GGT-Footing™ last?
The geotextile fibers are synthetic fabrics that do not rot and do not break down, so the additive is built for long-term durability. The footing keeps sand from packing down underfoot, which extends the life of the surface and reduces the frequency of repairs. With proper moisture and grooming, a GGT arena holds its performance season after season.
Does West Coast Footings build complete arenas?
Yes. Beyond footing, they offer full arena construction from the ground up, building a proper base before the footing goes in. They also provide design and consultation, professional maintenance, base repair, deep grooming, show-ring prep, and laser leveling. The goal stated on their site is a consistent, safe riding surface tailored to your vision and budget.
Do they sell and service harrows?
Yes. West Coast Footings offers complete harrow support including sales, parts, service, repair, and operator training. Proper grooming equipment is essential to maintaining a GGT surface, since maintaining moisture from the top while harrowing is what produces near-perfect footing. They can outfit you with the right drag and teach you how to use it.
Why hire a professional arena consultant?
West Coast Footings notes that while a consultant may seem like an added expense, the right surface prevents far larger costs — vet bills from injuries on bad footing, excessive water use, and frequent footing repairs. A correctly designed and built arena protects both your horse and your investment. Tractor Dean's hands-on oversight means the job is done right the first time.
Where is GGT-Footing™ used?
GGT footing is used at top equestrian facilities, including venues such as Sonoma Horse Park in Petaluma, California, the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, and East Coast show grounds. West Coast Footings installs and services GGT arenas across the Southwest and West Coast. The product's track record at high-level competition venues speaks to its consistency.
How do I get a quote or order GGT-Footing™?
Call West Coast Footings at (800) 585-7000 or email [email protected] to start. Tractor Dean can be reached directly at [email protected]. The team will help you design or build your arena, choose the right footing and additive, and set up watering and grooming so your surface stays sound.
What areas does West Coast Footings serve?
The company is based in Clovis, California, and serves equestrian facilities across the Southwest and West Coast. Because they handle construction, footing, additives, watering, and grooming as one coordinated service, they can manage an arena project end to end within that region. Contact them at (800) 585-7000 to confirm service for your location.
