What are the best arena footings made of?

The best horse arena footing is made of a mixture of sand and synthetic products to provide ideal firmness, cushioning, rebound, and traction. Textiles and fibers bind with sand particles to add stability and retain moisture. Rubber products reduce hardness and compaction in coarse sands, while also improving cushion and drainage. Premier Equestrian can help you find the best sand in your area and provide footing product recommendations for your arena needs.

What layers should my horse arena footing have?

Your horse arena footing should have four layers. The first layer is the simplest and easiest—it’s the natural soil at the very bottom of the arena. This is called the sub-base. The next layer is the upper sub-base, typically made of four to six inches of small, crushed rocks. This layer is meant for drainage purposes. The third layer is made up of rubber grids, mats, or stone dust. This layer is usually two inches deep and helps with drainage. The final layer—the top layer—is the actual horse footing where the horse will work. It’s commonly sand made specifically for equestrian purposes. Textile and/or rubber additives can be mixed in to enhance footing characteristics like firmness, cushioning, rebound and grip. Premier Equestrian offers a full line of footing additive products and a free sand report to help you understand what will work best for your arena.

Is there a difference between outdoor and indoor footing products?

No! Horse arena footing products can be used in both indoor and outdoor arenas. Of course, the horse footing products will be less affected in indoor arenas because they won’t be subject to the elements, but horse footing products are fairly universal between indoor and outdoor arenas. The biggest difference is moisture and your arena base. Outdoor horse arenas will need some kind of drainage system, and indoor horse arenas need systems to decrease freezing. To learn more about the differences between indoor and outdoor arenas, explore our article on indoor and outdoor horse footing.

What is the best base for my arena footing?

If you have an outdoor arena, you’ll need a base built for rainfall and drainage. Premier Equestrian offers arena base construction plans to help you and your arena builder. Premier Equestrian’s array of base mats is excellent for outdoor arenas. We carry brands like OTTO, ArenaAid, and Athletex. If you have an indoor arena, you won’t need a base built for drainage because your arena won’t be exposed to the elements. Instead, you’ll need a sealed stone base. Base mats will provide a consistent, level surface in an indoor riding arena, but aren’t required. OTTO Sport Base Mats absorb 40% of the shock in horses’ legs, making them ideal in any arena, indoor or outdoor.

Slow Dust - Dust Control 55 lb bag

Slow Dust – Dust Control 55 lb bag

Covers 36,000 to 45,000 sq ft

Free Shipping in the contiguous U.S.

SKU: 11-303

Description

Reduces Arena Dust and Watering

Slow Dust™ is a dust control product that reduces watering and improves the performance of your footing. Slow Dust™ uses a flocculation polymer to bind microscopic dust particles back together. The dust particles floating in your arena are charged to a negative state. Water connects the polymer and dust particles in a network, making them heavy and no longer airborne.

Download SDS Report

The 55 lb bag covers 36,000 to 45,000 square feet. For smaller coverage see the 18 lb bucket.

How Slow Dust Works

Slow Dust™ is a flocculant and is safe for horse and rider. Flocculants are commonly used in drinking water treatment plants to bind bacteria, viruses and protozoa enabling them to be removed from the water through filtration.

Slow Dust™ can add a bit of traction to your arena because of the particle stabilization qualities. Moisture will be retained and the need to water your arena can be reduced by 50%. Keeping the treated sand moist will help keep the sand particles flocked and out of the air. Easy to install, and maintain. Ratio is 1.5 lbs per 1,000 sf for up to 3” of sand.

Flocculation: Slow Dust flakes are activated by water. This creates a polymer network, connecting the floating dust particles, making them heavier so they don’t become airborne.

Organic materials in your footing (like sawdust, leaves, manure, urine, etc.) will decrease the effectiveness of Slow Dust because of pH balance. If you are unsure, send us a sample of your sand and we’ll test it with Slow Dust for free.

Benefits of Slow Dust™:

Simple and easy to apply
Reduces operational and maintenance costs
Environmentally and animal safe
Can be used if Magnesium or Calcium Chloride has been used in the past
Can last up to 16 months between treatments
Biodegradable

Slow Dust™ can be used in:

Riding arenas
Race tracks
Round pens
Corrals and paddocks

Slow Dust™ can be used with almost all footings including:

Crumb rubber
Cotton-added
Geotextile*
Silica sand
Screened or washed sand
Clay/sand mixture

*We’ve noticed a 50% reduction in water when used with geotextile footing.

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