There are a variety of horse footing products on the market today, but not all footing products are created equal. Before you take the plunge and purchase a footing product for your horse arena, it’s crucial to educate yourself about the footing product’s ingredients, origins, storage, usage, and maintenance. Read more about the importance of these five factors and what to look for in a quality footing product.
1. KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR FOOTING PRODUCT
Just as you read the ingredients on food labels at a grocery store or cosmetic products at a beauty store, you should also investigate the key ingredients used to create a textile footing product before purchasing it. High-quality horse arena footing, like all Premier Equestrian Textile Footing Products, will have an SDS Report (Safety Data Sheet) available. The SDS Report will tell you what “ingredients” are used to create a specific footing product, and whether those ingredients are hazardous and include post-consumer waste or industrial waste.
“There’s no footin g police out there, so we’re doing our part to ensure that the footing products we offer are products we can stand by,” explains Heidi Zorn, president of Premier Equestrian. “We have very high standards; we only sell footing products that we would personally ride on, and we only offer textile footing products that have an SDS Report.” These textile footing products include Premier ProTex, Premier ArenaAid, and Premier All Purpose.
2. KNOW THE ORIGINS OF YOUR FOOTING PRODUCT
Some footing companies utilize post-consumer waste (products recycled after consumer use), but all Premier Equestrian Textile Footing Products are made from new materials only using industrial waste (trimmings off newly made materials). “We use industrial trimmings for our textile footing products because they’re safer and better for the horse and rider,” explains Zorn. “Many of our competitors sell footing products made with post-consumer waste, which could be contaminated and ultimately dangerous.”
Arena footing products made with post-consumer waste can contain chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and a host of other contaminates. Premier Equestrian recycles their footing products to high standards of quality, and all Premier Textile Footing Products have SDS Reports, as previously noted. “We are the true textile footing supplier with safety and function at the forefront of all our materials,” adds Zorn. “We’re always looking out for our customers and the overall health of the horse.”
3. KNOW HOW YOUR FOOTING PRODUCT IS STORED & PACKAGED
Before purchasing a footing product, ask the supplier how their footing products are stored and packaged. If a footing product is packaged in large batches that aren’t stored properly mold and bacteria can quickly set in. The result? Not only will this make your footing product more difficult to spread because it’s all stuck together, but worse when you go to ride on your new footing you could be riding on a moldy surface, which is hazardous to both horse and rider. Additionally, it’s often cheaper for companies to store equestrian footing products in a non-climatized warehouse, and if footing products aren’t stored properly you may be charged for excess humidity and water weight when your footing product is shipped.
You can rest assured that Premier Equestrian arena footing products are property stored and packaged. “We store all Premier Equestrian footing products in acclimatized spaces,” notes Zorn. “Premier footing products are wrapped at all times to ensure they arrive to clients in the very best shape, never wet nor damaged.”
4. KNOW WHAT SAND IS BEST FOR YOUR FOOTING PRODUCT
Sand is the key ingredient in all good horse arena footing. Sand qualities affect the performance of your footing, such as the tightness, looseness, softness, hardness, and dustiness. Whether you’re purchasing a footing product for a new arena or rehabilitating an existing surface, keep in mind that the wrong sand can create problems and add to your expense over time. Premier Equestrian’s Footing Specialists can help guide you to the best sand for your arena. “We take the time to speak with our clients and ensure they have the proper sand for their footing,” notes Zorn. Read more about horse arena sand and schedule a free sand analysis.
5. KNOW HOW TO CARE FOR & MAINTAIN YOUR FOOTING PRODUCT
Even with the best sand and highest quality footing products, regular arena maintenance and proper hydration are necessary to keep footing materials consistent for your horses. You’d never purchase a new horse and not keep them well-groomed and watered, and the same is true for your new arena footing. Premier Equestrian offers a range of horse arena maintenance solutions including Arena Grooming Equipment and Arena Hydration Products.
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