Equestrian Surfaces Ltd - Wax Track

[Deano645]

Hi, I am looking into surfaces for our arena which is being completely redone from bottom up (was installed 10 years ago with planning but with woodchip on membrane with no stone / drainage). Groundworks will start soon, drainage, stone & membrane but looking at all the surface alternatives. The chap who is doing it for us (who comes highly recommended) suggests installing sand / fibre mix which he supplies, I have friends that have had arena done by him and they're happy but it does freeze and get dusty in the summer months. He has come back to me with a suggestion of Equestrian Surfaces Ltd Wax Track. Has anyone experience of this? I have had quotes from all the biggies, including Andrews Bowen. As it is only my daughter that rides in the arena with two horses, wasn't sure if we really needed to spend a lot of money on Andrews Bowen. She does train on it with her coach and the horses seem to like the waxed surface, but then I have been reading a lot about wax surfaces not being good and causing lameness issues. It is such a minefield! Any help gratefully received.

 

[ponios]

I have Andrew’s Bowen surface the pro wax. We get lots of frosts here, it’s like narnia we have our own micro climate! The bloke that runs it did a special mix with the weather in mind. It’s been fantastic. Not once has it frozen.

Yes it’s more expensive, but so is the whole arena build or in your case refurb so we took the view it was better to pay more for a surface you can reliably ride on than spend all that money and find you can’t use it right when you need it - I.e in the winter but like I said, we are particularly frosty here!

I also asked my vet and vet physio (incidentally both also accomplished eventers with their own arenas) what their thoughts on wax were and they were not concerned- that said both had ridden on and were familiar with the surface I was putting down so can’t speak for all wax surfaces as there are varying amounts of wax used and I think that’s where the bad press comes from- regular use of heavily waxed surfaces.