Time to put the spring back into your footing
“Revitalize Your Arena This Spring with Premier Equestrian’s Footing Refresh Program”
As the weather warms and the riding season kicks into high gear, it’s the perfect time to ensure your arena is in peak condition. Over time, the elements can take a toll on your arena’s footing, causing the surface to become uneven, too deep, or too compact. To help arena owners get their surfaces ready for spring, Premier Equestrian, North America’s leading horse arena footing supplier, has announced the Spring Refresher Program.
The Spring Refresher Program offers smaller quantities of footing additives, perfect for a targeted spring maintenance routine. These additives can help revitalize your arena and restore the ideal characteristics for your horses.
“Weather can have a significant impact on arena footing,” explains the Premier Equestrian President Heidi Zorn. “If you have an additive like our ArenaAid™ , ProTex or Athletex Footing, the textile can migrate to the top over months of non-use, while the sand settles below. This separation of materials can drastically change the surface’s performance.”
Sand particles can also segregate and settle under the influence of weather, altering the cushion, resilience, and grip of the footing. Erosion can even wash away some of the footing material entirely, further compromising the arena’s condition.
“A good maintenance program is essential for keeping your arena in top shape,” Zorn continues. “Our Spring Refresher Program makes it easy to give your surface a boost, adding just the right amount of textile, fiber, or other additives to restore the perfect balance.”
If your arena feels a bit “dead” or the cushion has become too firm, a simple top-dressing of additional footing material can breathe new life into the surface. Premier Equestrian recommends flipping or overturning the footing every year to keep the sand particles well-mixed and evenly distributed.
“After about two years, you may also want to consider adding an extra 10% of the fiber or textile component to your footing,” Zorn advises. “This helps maintain the optimal performance characteristics over time.” If it has been longer than 5 years you may consider adding as much as 50% of the original amount.
A Simple Way to Examine Your Surface Quality
To get a quick sense of your arena’s footing condition, try this simple test. Grab a handful of the sand and try to form a ball. If the sand doesn’t hold together, it’s a sign that the particles and footing products have started to separate. On the other hand, if the ball is too hard and doesn’t break apart easily when dropped, it could indicate that the surface has broken down too much.
As the finer particles in the footing break down over time, they can produce a very fine, dust-like material. These super-fine particles act almost like a glue when wet, similar to how fine clay in pottery sticks together. Your ideal footing should hold together when compacted in your hand, but then fall apart a bit when dropped to the ground. This balanced structure is key for providing the optimal grip, cushion, and support for your horses. Regularly checking your footing in this way can help you identify when it’s time for a refresher, add more sand or remix the entire surface to restore that perfect arena footing.
Premier Equestrian’s online resources at PremierEquestrian.com provide a wealth of information on arena maintenance, sand selection, and footing products. Arena owners can also call the company’s experts to discuss the specific needs of their facility.
As North America’s leading supplier of high-quality footing additives, arena groomers, surface stabilization and farm & barn products, Premier Equestrian is uniquely positioned to help equestrians achieve the perfect riding surface. With their expertise in equine biomechanics and proprietary footing blends, they are the trusted partner for arena owners across the continent.
Don’t let your arena’s condition hold you back this spring. Take advantage of Premier Equestrian’s Spring Refresher Program and revitalize your footing for a safe, high-performance riding experience all season long.
Premier Equestrian is a recognized expert in horse arena footing as it relates to equine biomechanics. This knowledge is used daily to help horse owners across North America improve arenas and footing. Premier Equestrian has developed proprietary blends of textiles and fibers used to stabilize all types of sand. Visit PremierEquestrian.com or call 800-611-6109.
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