We are very proud to be accredited by Carpet Recycling UK which recognises the quality and process for our products.

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The Old School House, Snipe St, Redcar, Cleveland, TS10 5FN
sales@foleysequestrian.co.uk
01642 989 441
Monday - Thursday 09:00 AM - 16:00 PM
Friday 09:00 AM - 15:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday Closed

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The Importance of a Quality Arena Surface.

No Hoof, No Horse...

The Importance Of A Quality Arena Surface

The horse riding arena is an incredible place for equestrians and their equine partners. Not only are great challenges faced and tackled in this very place but the training involved to compete, or simply become a better partnership takes place here too.

While we all want our surface to look incredible and offer great drainage, did you know that your arena surface can actually affect your horse’s health too? Not only can a well-functioning surface improve the health and well-being of your horse but it can also contribute towards a long and healthy career too. And the opposite? Well, let’s dive in…

No Hoof (Or Leg), No Horse

It’s a great saying and one that’s thrown around a lot but despite its rather cliché tone now, it’s still just as true today as it ever has been.

Generally speaking, it’s important that the horse has what’s known as ‘useful footage’ when working within the arena. The interaction of the footage or surface as we call it, and the horse’s hoof – whether barefoot or shod – can either greatly reduce the stress on the soft tissue of the lower leg or greatly increase it.

Sticky or even slippery footing, such as muddy or wet footing, will without a doubt emphasise the stress on the horses lower leg and in turn lead to injuries due to the simple fact that it will overload the tissue.

The same can be said of loose surface that comes apart or moves too easily during inclement weather and heavy use such as jumping. This would likely not provide a supportive enough surface for the leg or the hoof. Once again, this would lead to the horse’s soft tissue being overloaded during each and every step as it uses an overly excessive amount of muscles, tendons, ligaments and other tissues to lift the leg each time. To put it simply, think of it as running on a beach, the extra force you need to exert on the sand in order to move forward.

The Ideal Surface & Footage

To avoid injuries, it’s imperative that riders ensure their surface allows the horse’s hoof to land evenly, providing a firm support at maximum loading level. Thankfully, here at Foley’s, we have you covered with supportive surfaces that provide a firm level of support, even and well draining.

We provide three different equestrian products within our range. These are…

Eco-Sport Mix
Eco-Flex
Premium Eco-Excel

Here are just some of the benefits of our Equestrian Surfaces…

Will not freeze – avoiding unrideable surfaces.
Wind resistant – able to withstand the likes of Storm Eunice while still holding up under foot as opposed to becoming loose like sand would.
100% wire and contaminate free – not only will they provide safe and stable footing whatever the weather but they’ll do so without the worry of wire or other contaminants lurking.

The beauty of our products is that they can even be combined to provide you with the perfect footing for your arena.

Our Eco-Sport Mix makes an incredibly cost-effective alternative to a sand base, and when used as the base can be topped with Eco-Excel to provide a firm and stable footing.

Contact Us Today

If you’d like to find out more about our equestrian surfaces, please don’t hesitate to contact our team today on 01642 989 441 or email us via sales@foleysequestrian.co.uk

We are very proud to be accredited by Carpet Recycling UK which recognises the quality and process for our products.

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Company registered address: Lorton Road, Redcar, England, TS10 4LY