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Best Footing Options for Dressage Arenas

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Why are we talking about what it is rather than the best footing for dressage? Sometimes we forget the history and roots of the sport. Footing has advanced dramatically over the years, and while there are many options available, we want to start with the beginnings as a reminder of the long tradition in dressage, and the types of athleticism required for training.

Understanding Dressage

The word “dressage” is derived from the French word, dresseur, which means “to train.” To better understand dressage, think of it as a way of training the horse. The main objective of the training is both for the horse and the rider to work harmoniously together. In dressage, the horse is taught to perform fluid movements. The horse’s mental and physical ability are developed, in order for it to become attentive, supple, keen, confident and powerful.

A well-trained dressage horse will be able to have the harmonious movement, physical ability, and mental discipline to perform elastic and regular gaits. The gaits include the canter, trots, and walk. The horse should be able to perform these flawlessly, fluidly and effortlessly. On top of these, the happiness and overall well-being of the horse are of paramount important in dressage.

The Horse and the Dressage Rider

As already said, the goal of dressage is both for the horse and the rider. Sometimes it is the rider that trains the horse. Other times, it’s the other way around. But the best thing is for the two to work together, to learn from each other, to get to know each other better, and to develop a special horse-rider bond.

For a start, the rider must learn to sit comfortably and confidently in the saddle. He needs to use his hands, legs, and weight well to achieve that unique balance. The whole process is long. It takes time for the horse and rider to get to know each other well and develop that special bond of understanding and trust. But once that trust has been developed, the outcome is simply superb.

Footing Options for Dressage Arenas

Aside from the rider and the horse, the footing plays a huge part in the horse and rider connection in dressage. Having the right footing is important not only for the training of the horse, but also for its safety. Using the right consistent footing avoids unnecessary injury and is highly beneficial to the physical and mental health of the horse and the rider.

The most common options of base footing for dressage include sand, stonedust, and wood products.

Sand

Sand works fine for dressage, especially when it is mixed with other sand of different particle size or some other footing materials. If the depth is right, sand can have the right traction needed for dressage. However, the downside of using sand footing is that can easily get eroded and become unsuitable for the horse over time. If you don’t get the right depth, it might put the horse’s safety in jeopardy, particularly during challenging movements and turns.

Stonedust

Another common footing option for dressage is stonedust. This material provides great stability for the horse during its movements. It also looks attractive outdoors. But the problem with this kind of footing is that it requires more maintenance and management, which means it could be costly in the long run. Moreover, in order for it to function better, you need to keep watering it. It’s a challenging kind of footing.

Wood Products

There are dressage arenas that use wood products as footing. These materials function well when mixed with other materials. If the right amount of wood chips and coarse sawdust are mixed, then this footing can provide great cushion and superb moisture-holding capacity. But since wood products are organic, they decompose fast and eventually get broken and compacted, hence, unusable. They require high and frequent maintenance to keep the right firmness, cushion and depth.

Advantages of Foam Footing

When it comes to footing additive for dressing, foam footing is something every rider or arena owner must consider. This footing additive provides the right cushion, grip and firmness, necessary for the safety and development of the horse.

Better Cushion

Foam footing provides the right amount of cushion. With it, the horse can perform and train better with reduced risk of injury. The right cushion is necessary for absorbing concussion, which means that it is highly comfortably and safe for both the horse and the rider. It depends and reduces the maximum horse as the horse puts all its weight on its legs. The improved cushion promotes longevity of the horse’s joint tissues and allows less strain in its feet and legs. As a result, it extends the horse’s stamina and endurance.

Right Firmness with a  Lessened Impact

Foam footing also lessens impact by providing the right firmness. The footing additive is best for dressage. Adding foam footing to the base footing considerably reduces impact firmness. This means that the footing will provide the right amount of hoof support and stability to the horse. It works by influencing the mechanical shock experienced by your horse as its hoof hits the ground. And lesser impact means reduced risk of injury and better opportunity for the horse to train.

Maintained Grip

The said additive footing also promotes better grip, which is necessary when the horse’s hoof slides. A great grip is necessary during pushing off, turning and ground impaction. The actual surface friction and the kind of footing materials used play a huge part in maintaining grip. Addition foam footing provides a consistent traction in your arena footing, working like yoga mats.

The Footing and Rider Relationship

Dressage is more than just a sport. It’s a relationship, a special bond between the horse and its rider, a true partnership. Achieving high scores on your individual dressage tests and training to get your horse there, requires a lot of patience, discipline and hard work both from the rider and the horse. In addition, it requires trust and consistency.

Why not offer that same comfort you feel on your bare feet on a plush carpet or running on a foam rubber track, to your horse. With the right footing additive, you obtain a mental and competitive advantage with the reduced risk of injury and a better opportunity for longer periods of training. Make your arena dressage-ready with our Foam Footing.

 

 

 

 

Best Footing for Barrel Racing

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The Best Footing for Barrel Racing Horses

Many times we are asked what the best way to keep the horses healthy and provide a competitive advantage for barrel racing. So much depends on good footing, especially for barrel horse racing. Having the right footing is crucial for promoting the utmost safety of the horse and the rider during the race.

Barrel racing is characterized by fast movements, challenging accelerations and explosive turns. The wrong footing can cause a slip or can be injurious to the horse. With this, a good arena footing is highly required during the race. This will ensure the safety of both the horse and its rider, to avoid unnecessary injuries.

The tried and tired footing additives

There is no hard-and-fast rule on what really is a perfect riding ground. But standard-wise, a good riding ground must provide the right traction, firmness and cushion. It must not be too dusty, overly abrasive or slick. It also helps if it is easier and cheaper to maintain.

The usual footing materials used are quarried inorganic materials such as road base mix, gravel, stonedust and sand. They are distributed according to particle sizes and standard adopted nomenclature. The following are the common footing materials used for barrel racing and who would have though the new outperforming footing additive is made from the foam from yoga mats.

  • Sand

This can range from fine sand (0.05mm diameter) to coarse type (2.00mm diameter). Some use sand as it is. However, for barrel racing, it is much better and safer if the sand is combined with other particle sizes, materials or additives such as foam footing. Aside from this, the depth of the sand is also important. The deeper the sand, the looser the traction; which means more stressful to the horse’s tendons. The safer way is to start with about 2 inches of sand, and add ½ inch at a time, only when necessary. This allows you to try and test first before settling for the right depth. But since sand is inorganic and solid, it can erode and become unsuitable over time. Nevertheless, it’s a great footing for horse racing.

  • Wood Products

Some arenas have wood products as primary footing material. But they work best when they are mixed with other materials for footing. These include coarse sawdust and wood chips. With the right size and amount, they can provide moisture-holding capacity and cushioning, especially when mixed with other materials like sand. The downside of using wood products is that they will eventually become compacted and broken. Since they are organic, they decompose too. This means that you have to replace the older wood every once in a while to maintain the right depth, cushion and firmness.

  • Rubber

Small particles of rubber are also used as footing for horse racing. As a general rule, make sure that the rubber is not too bouncy, as it affects the movement and balance of the horse. A good ground rubber is mixed with other surface materials like sand. This ensures better cushion and minimizes compaction. Moreover, because rubbers are dry-looking and darken when placed outdoors, they do not produce glare when hit by the sun. With this, the horse and the rider will be able to see the footing clearly and ride more safely. It was also known to be beneficial during the winter, because the surface thaws faster with rubber, however the slick surface and other rebound properties do not compare to the new foam footing solutions. Also, the material breaks down quickly and requires continual replacement.

  • Stonedust

Along with sand, stonedust is the most common footing material used in any horse racing. It drains well and provides better stability for the horse . If well-maintained and kept watered, stonedust surface can be highly attractive. It is more suitable for race when kept damp. But of the common footing materials used, stonedust requires more management and maintenance.

New Footing Additive

The surface achieves a better status when foam footing material is added. With Foam Footing, you will be able to achieve the perfect arena footing for barrel racing. Now the next thing to focus on is to enjoy the training as much as your horses are enjoying their new found feet. The yoga foam footing material is much different than rubber and provides benefits other footing additives cannot touch. It is resilient in the harsh summers of the Arizona and Mexico deserts, to the frozen riding arenas in the winter in Calgary, New York or Chicago.

 

 

The Horse’s Footfall Phases and Your Arena Footing

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The Horse’s Gait Phases

The arena footing plays an important part in horse training, and to the health and safety of the horse. Whether you compete in dressage, eventing, western or even racing, the footing in the arena you ride in can make a difference. To understand the connection between the area footing and the gait of your horse, let us get to know the three main footfall phases — or the gait— of horses.

The Landing Phase

This phase is where the hoof first comes into contact with the ground. The horse’s momentum causes the hoof to continue moving both deeper and further forward into the footing, which usually causes vibrations and the bones in the horse’s leg to collide with each other.

The Loading Phase

Now that the hoof has slid as deep and far as it will go, the entire hoof is on the ground. The hoof is now bearing all the weight of the horse and the rider, so the more intense and quick the action, the more stress is on the hoof, particularly the suspensory and flexor tendons.

Push Off Phase

This is a transition phase that separates the initial stride from the next. In this phase, the horse pushes off the ground with their heel, which comes off the footing and moves over the toes. Once the hoof comes back down, the landing phase begins again.

Importance of Your Arena Surface for the Horse’s Gait

The composition of your arena surface will make a major impact on your horses who consistently perform these motions. You could cause significant stress that leads to long-term injury if you don’t implement the right materials. To ensure that your horse can conduct their normal gait without injuring themselves, your surface must have these characteristics.

  1. Cushioning: As you might expect, cushioning is prevent the horse from injuring themselves during the landing phase. Some cushioning helps to distribute shock and provide enough resistance and balance for the horse during the loading and push off phase, while also helping to support the sole of the horse and generating better blood flow.
  2. Firmness: Related to cushioning, the right firmness of the arena surface is important in providing support and absorbing shock during the landing phase. The surface must have enough cushion to absorb the shock and prevent the horse from injuring their hooves or joints while also being firm enough to prevent them from sinking in during the landing phase.
  3. Grip: Grip is especially important during the landing phase, as without some grip the horse would simply slide across the surface instead of landing in one spot. During the rollover phase, it also provides traction and support, as the surface must be tight enough to provide stability for the horse during turns and push-offs to avoid sliding and concussion.
  4. Rebound: Another important aspect of the surface is its resiliency, or rebound. As the horse pushes into the surface during the landing and loading phases, the surface will repress; and it should bounce right back into place as the horse pushes off.

It is important to make sure that you have the highest quality surface and proper footing in place, in order for the horses to move more efficiently and with less risk for injury. Contact Foam Footing to learn more about our foam arena footing.