Whether you’re a dressage enthusiast or prefer the adrenaline of a cross country course, the importance of training within an arena cannot be underestimated. From regular weekly schooling to ensure your horse is supple, to intensive training of jump grids and more, arenas (when available) can feature as an incredibly important aspect of a horse and rider’s training programme.

What many aren’t aware of however, is the impact your arena surface can have on your training. Arena surfaces vary, from carpet fibre to automotive fibre but one thing remains the same, regardless of the arena surface you have – regular arena maintenance will ensure your equestrian surface remains not only useable but beneficial for you and your horse for many years to come. 

The Importance Of Regular Maintenance

Here at Foley’s Equestrian Surfaces, we’re proud to say our arena surfaces are super low maintenance. That being said, this doesn’t mean ‘no maintenance’. With the right maintenance programme, our range of synthetic riding material will give you your dream surface that aids both you and your horse’s performance each and every week.

The frequency that you need to tend to your arena will of course vary depending on the surface you have. With a surface from Foley’s Equestrian Surfaces however, you can ride, happy in the knowledge that you’re benefitting from a surface with perhaps the lowest maintenance needs possible. 

It’s worth noting however, that the level of use, type of use and of course the climate you’re currently enjoying will all affect your maintenance routine, however the company you purchased your surface from, such as ourselves here at Foley’s, will be able to help you with working out a specific routine for your individual needs. 

That being said, there are some arena surface maintenance basics we can all take heed of, and to make it as easy as possible, we’ve explained everything below!

Regular Maintenance Guidance

Pay Attention To High Traffic Areas – lets face it, we’ve all seen the arena with great big huge mounds of surface that’s built up into the corners after hours and hours of traffic. When levelling your surface it’s super important you pay attention to those high traffic areas. Think everything from those corners to gateways and even the centre line after all that square halt practice.

Utilise Surface Graders – surface graders are a great asset as they help keep your surface level making it much better for performance and of course much safer for your four legged friend. Surface graders are available in different sizes as well as for specific surfaces so do make sure you have the right one for your surface. We know that many may use a ‘one size fits all’ approach but over time, this will start to show in a surface that’s simply not fit for purpose anymore. Always remember to use the right tool for the job. This will save you huge amounts of time, money and ultimately heartache in the long run.

Grade To The Correct Level – you’ll also need to ensure when grading that you’re grading to the correct level. If you go too deep for your specific surface, you risk ruing the membrane and sub base layer making it completely unrideable. Go too shallow and you simply won’t level the surface. Avoid costly repairs and simply take the time to test the waters. Better yet, ask your surface provider for advice. 

Use A Quad Bike Or Small Tractor – we know some like to put their surface grader onto the back of their lorry or trucks but we recommend using a quad bike or small tractor. They’re far more agile and will make the whole process a lot easier from start to finish. Again, use the right tool for the job.

Carry Out Depth Probes – last but not least, for a thorough check, you can carry out depth probes on your surface every 3 to 4 months. This allows you to check for movement that you may not initially see from surface level. You can look for inconsistencies and more. 

Extra Top Tips To Keep Your Surface Pristine…

• Always remove horse droppings following arena use as these can degrade over time and become detrimental to the stability of your surface.
• Always remove debris from the arena. These too can affect the stability of the surface over time. Remove everything from leaves to branches and more.
• Avoid bringing debris into the arena by picking out hooves before entering. This also lends itself to good stable husbandry and is a great habit to get into.
• Ensure all machinery tyres going into the arena are clean also. This will prevent contamination of the surface.
• Ensure regular maintenance is carried out, from levelling to grading etc to ensure a much longer lifespan of your surface.

Want more helpful hints and tips about keeping your arena surface looking pristine, contact us today and we’ll be happy to help!