Riding Arena Surface Options.

Essentially a good riding arena surface should reduce jarring of the horse’s limbs by offering a cushioning effect. It should provide a springy, yet secure footing for your horse. Preferably, a good surface should also be little affected by adverse weather conditions and have a good life span! This is an important aspect, when you consider some of the original surfaces such as wood bark, which used to end up as mush after only a few years of use. Some of the current surfaces on the market are summarised below and hopefully this will help you to make an informed decision as to which surface is right for you. However, the best thing to do is to do LOTS of research into ALL available surfaces as well as asking for samples.

Note: In terms of volume of surface, a general rule is that for a 20m x 40m arena the calculation is 20 x 40 x 0.25 = 200 cubic metres. This should give you an uncompressed surface depth of 10 inches and this then compresses to a working surface of approximately 6 to 7 inches.

SAND is rarely used on its own nowadays as it can get very heavy underfoot and has a tendency to freeze as it retains water. Of course good design, using top quality silica sand and adequate drainage can alleviate this issue. Sand is commonly used however, as a base layer of many arenas.

RUBBER in various forms, for example granules or shreds, is often used as a top layer over sand. Rubber can offer a springy riding surface that shouldn’t get too deep and is less likely to freeze than pure sand. Just be careful to do your research to check the source of the rubber, as sometimes when old tyres have been shredded, bits of metal can remain.

SYNTHETIC SURFACES come in various forms, generally made up of synthetic textiles like felt. They are commonly mixed with silica sand to provide a secure, cushioned surface that is resistant to rot and frost.

WOOD FIBRE products vary, but as already stated, the bark surfaces can mulch down in a very short space of time. However, there are other wood fibre products available such as shredded wood, containing no bark which offers a cushioned ride and longer life span than chipped bark.

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