Waxed surfaces

[LBird]

I need to choose a waxed surface and have narrowed it down to a choice of Andrews Bowen Propell, Martin Collins Activ-Trak or Equestrian Surfaces Cushion Track Classic.

Does anyone have any experience of any of these surfaces - riding on and/or maintaining them? Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[SEL]

I've been hiring an arena with the Martin Collins surface and its great. My mare has had on/off lameness issues and she goes amazingly well on it. It's standing up to the heatwave well too.

 

[TheMule]

We had a Martin Collins waxed surface that broke down badly and they were very difficult to deal with, they blamed it on the fact we weren't using a Martin Collins grader. Just be aware that waxed surfaces need re-waxing after a period of time (generally about 10 years)

 

[blood_magik]

I have soundtrack from equestrian surfaces in my indoor. Really easy to maintain - no watering required. We Harrow about twice a week using one of their graders.

Just had maintenance done by them and a new outdoor installed.

Last big livery yard I was on had cushion track which stuck to everything. Rode okay when they bothered to harrow it but it was ruined when they rolled it for a car show they were holding in the arena.

 

[LBird]

Hi TheMule
Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Which Martin Collins surface did you have? How recently did you have the problems? I have to say that I've heard similar stories about several equestrian surface providers - unless you're a big centre they don't seem to be that bothered. :-/

 

[LBird]

Hi blood_magik
One of the (many) reasons I'm going far a waxed surface is to avoid the need for irrigation and the CushionTrak has a higher wax content than the SoundTrak so it should be ok on that score. Interested to hear though that it stuck to everything!

 

[LBird]

That's good to hear SEL. My on/off lame gelding prompted my research into surfaces. Without his "input" I'd probably be going for a sand and fibre surface