When you walk into a horse arena, you might be surprised to see the ground is completely unpaved. This can be a little jarring for someone who is used to seeing dirt, gravel, or even concrete for their horse’s footing. There are a few reasons why an arena might be unpaved. Depending on where you live, there may not be any nearby sand dunes or other natural areas that would be ideal for a horse arena. Or maybe the ground in your area is too soft to support the weight of a large group of horses. Unpaved arenas are often used for indoor horse shows, but they can also be used for other equestrian activities like horseback riding lessons, trail rides, and trail riding competitions. Regardless of the purpose or use for your horse arena, it is important to select the right type of footing so your horse does not experience any discomfort during use.

Sand Dunes

Sand dunes are some of the most ideal natural areas for a horse arena. Sand dunes are made up of tiny grains of sand that are usually found in deserts or near the ocean.Sand dunes are extremely soft and can be very difficult to walk on, especially for large groups of horses.Sand dunes are also very easy to clean, which is a big advantage for horse owners who have to bring their horses to an arena regularly.Sand dunes are not ideal for all types of horse arenas, though. If you have a large horse arena with sand dunes, it is important to have a large enough drainage system in place to prevent sand from getting into the water supply. Sand dunes are also not appropriate for all types of weather. If it is extremely hot or if it is raining heavily, sand dunes can get extremely hot and muddy, which would be very uncomfortable for the horses.

Sand Mix

Sand mix is a type of sand that has been mixed with a bit of other materials, such as clay or salt.Sand mix is a good choice for horse arenas that are located in areas with lots of rain or other wet weather, such as in the Midwest or along the coast.Sand mix is often less expensive than sand dunes and can also be easier to clean, depending on what other materials are mixed in with the sand.Sand mix is not appropriate for all types of weather, though. If it is extremely dry or if it is extremely hot, sand mix can get extremely dry and hard, which would be very uncomfortable for the horses.

Sand and Gravel

Sand and gravel is a good choice for horse arenas that are located in areas that are not as rainy as sand mix or sand dunes.Sand and gravel is often a good compromise between sand mix and sand dunes.Sand and gravel is easier to clean than sand dunes, but it is still fairly difficult to clean.Sand and gravel is also appropriate for all types of weather.Sand and gravel can be a bit more difficult to walk on than sand dunes, but it is not as difficult as sand mix.Sand and gravel is appropriate for all types of weather, but it is important to have a drainage system in place to prevent the sand and gravel from getting into the water supply.Sand and gravel is an ideal choice for horse arenas that are located in areas with moderate rainfall.

Concrete

Concrete is a very common choice for horse arenas, especially for outdoor horse arenas.Concrete is often used for indoor horse arenas as well, especially if the horse arena is not in a remote location.Concrete is a good choice for horse arenas that are located in areas with moderate rainfall.Concrete is a good choice for indoor arenas, but it can get very slippery when it is wet.Concrete is a good choice for outdoor arenas that are in areas that are not very muddy.Concrete is a good choice for indoor arenas that are used for indoor horse shows.Concrete is a good choice for indoor arenas that are used for other equestrian activities, such as horseback riding lessons, trail rides, and trail riding competitions.

Conclusion

Fitting a horse arena with the right type of footing is an important part of building or renovating a horse arena.There are a few different types of footing that are commonly used in horse arenas, including sand, sand mix, sand and gravel, and concrete. It is important to select the right type of footing for your horse arena based on the type of weather it experiences, the amount of rainfall in your area, and the purpose of the horse arena.Sand is the least expensive type of footing, but it is also the least comfortable.Sand mix is a good compromise between sand and sand mix.Sand and gravel is a good choice for horse arenas that are located in areas that are not as rainy as sand mix or sand dunes.Concrete is the most expensive type of footing, but it is also the most comfortable.Concrete is an ideal choice for indoor horse arenas, especially if the horse arena is not in a remote location.

Frequently Asked Question

The best surface for a horse arena is sand. The sand should be a medium, to coarse, sharp sand that has been cleaned (washed) so it becomes less compacted over time and give off less dust
Olympic Equestrian Arena surfaces tend to be made up of sand with a small percentage of polyester textile fibres.
Normally 8 - 12 centimeters of fine sand combined with a small amount of textile fibres and a sand additive will be sufficient for dressage or show jumping.
Olympic Equestrian Arena surfaces tend to be made up of sand with a small percentage of polyester textile fibres.