Opinions on this footing

IsabellaPandora

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Has anyone ridden in arenas with footing like this? Its in the arena dad kindly built many years ago before I moved abroad to equine college, Its listed as hobby however I now ride competitively and not sure if it would be bad for her legs as I’ve never seen anyone use something like this? Should I get rid / mix it with something , leave as is ?
Thank you!!


https://animalogic.hr/product/otto-reitex/
https://www.pentru-cai.ro/materiale-terenuri-hobby
 

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It’s old carpet backing. Does it have sand underneath? We have an arena we use exactly like this but just the shred and it’s awful. No sand to stabilise and just placed straight onto the drainage stone. It’s basically the cheapest arena surface you can get as didn’t put sand down.

Run across it yourself and make a decision. Does it feel consistent? Is it level? Is it hard work? Does it feel flat or springy?

The above arena I do use but keep it to 20 mins max and don’t jump on it as it gives them no feed back and is hardwork. If it had sand down it would be a vast improvement
 
It’s old carpet backing. Does it have sand underneath? We have an arena we use exactly like this but just the shred and it’s awful. No sand to stabilise and just placed straight onto the drainage stone. It’s basically the cheapest arena surface you can get as didn’t put sand down.

Run across it yourself and make a decision. Does it feel consistent? Is it level? Is it hard work? Does it feel flat or springy?

The above arena I do use but keep it to 20 mins max and don’t jump on it as it gives them no feed back and is hardwork. If it had sand down it would be a vast improvement
Honestly it’s not great, I’ll get rid of half and put sand under it. Is there a specific type of sand people mix with this?
 
Honestly it’s not great, I’ll get rid of half and put sand under it. Is there a specific type of sand people mix with this?
Get a specialist company into advise otherwise you could just be throwing more money at the problem and not solve it. There are so many different types of sand and you need the right one and right grain size.
 
I have surface like this, it's automotive carpet off cuts.
I love mine and the horses all move and jump really well on it. It never freezes or goes deep at all.
I was going to put sand through it but never needed to.

The only issue I have, is my horse feels super flat now on some competition venue surfaces, in comparison. Particularly waxed and rolled indoors, which feel very dead.
 
I have surface like this, it's automotive carpet off cuts.
I love mine and the horses all move and jump really well on it. It never freezes or goes deep at all.
I was going to put sand through it but never needed to.

The only issue I have, is my horse feels super flat now on some competition venue surfaces, in comparison. Particularly waxed and rolled indoors, which feel very dead.

I have medium rubber chunk on top of silica and he feels dead as a dodo on some heavily waxed surfaces in comparison!
 
I have medium rubber chunk on top of silica and he feels dead as a dodo on some heavily waxed surfaces in comparison!

@nikkimariet interesting, as your boy is barefoot too isn't he?
Do you avoid those surfaces or push through?
I don't know whether to hire that sort of arena so he gets used to it or just avoid those venues at the moment 🤷
 
@nikkimariet interesting, as your boy is barefoot too isn't he?
Do you avoid those surfaces or push through?
I don't know whether to hire that sort of arena so he gets used to it or just avoid those venues at the moment 🤷

I try and avoid them as best I can - sometimes certain shoes run at certain venues which I can’t avoid. He is barefoot yes :)
 
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