ArenaSandSpecications.pdfVIP

Arena Sand Specifications UNDERSTANDING A RENA FOOT ING – BASIC FACTS: Poor footing issues: If the arena footing is hard, the horse will shorten its stride to minimize j arring or adversely modify his j umping form to avoid the sting of landing. Hard footing will also stress their j oints. If footing is too soft and rolls away under the hooves, it will cause strain to their soft tissues – tendon, ligaments, and mus- cles. If the footing is slippery, or insufficient so that the hooves penetrate to a slip- pery base, the horse may fall or feel insecure and move cautiously. Good footing is safer for your horse and boosts their confidence and performance. FOOTING PROPERT IES: Take for example, when you walk on a beach, the dry sand above the high tide mark has no traction, rolls away underfoot and is tiring to even walk over. The damp sand in the middle feels cushiony, yet is sup- portive with good traction, while the wet compacted sand at the wave line can actually feel hard with minimal give underfoot. With arena footing, we strive for that happy medium of cushion and traction to help our horses perform their best and stay sound. Rolling vs Stablized Footing: T here are several factors that affect footing particle stabilization: Particle shape: The shape of the footing particles affects stability underfoot - whether the footing will roll (round particles), compact and become hard (sharp particles) or provide cushion and stability (angular particles). Angular particles offer some resistance to movement between them, preventing rolling, but permit enough give for a cushioning effect. Particle size: Footing that contains particles very close in size and that have been washed of all fines, silt and clay will be less stable and more likely to roll under hooves than footing with a moderate range of particle size. Extremely washed cleaned sand can cause a rolling effect. Watering: An intermolecular attraction is for