Previously in Equine Biomechanics & Equestrian Surfaces, we went over the movement of the horse, more specifically the three phases the hoof goes through within any gait. They were the landing phase, the loading phase and finally the break-over phase.

Now that we fully understand the movement of the horse and how the hoof interacts with the ground/surface, the importance of a good surface becomes much clearer. Looking at equestrian surfaces, an ideal one will allow the horse to move safely through each phase without losing either momentum or energy and it does so by providing particular levels of firmness, cushioning, cupping, responsiveness and grip.

We’re going to look at each of those characteristics in more detail beginning with…

Firmness in An Equestrian Surface

The hardness of an equestrian surface will of course affect how much support it provides to the horse during and after the landing phase. Regardless of whether the horse is jumping, doing flatwork or simply lunging without a rider on its back, the firmness of an arena surface will be the determining factor in how well the shock from impact is dispersed. A firmer surface will provide a high level of support however, too firm and it can’t dampen the impact. This will result in more shockwaves travelling up the legs increasing chances of injury.

Too soft however and the shock will be absorbed but little to no support provided, once again resulting in injury and wasted energy. There is indeed a fine line to navigate when choosing the ideal surface. It needs to be firm enough to offer support but soft enough to minimise any concussion as much as possible.

Cushioning In An Equestrian Surface

When we talk about cushioning, we’re talking about how well a surface will absorb shock during the loading phase. Too hard a surface and you’ll find a complete lack of cushioning. Too soft however and the footing becomes unstable. Both can result in injury through forcing the limbs to work harder and take on more stress. Both can also lead to inflammation of the soft tissue in the legs as well as a plethora of other injuries.

A good surface, such as our Eco-Flex, will provide enough cushioning to distribute shock while offering enough support under the hoof to provide the right amount of resistance and balance, allowing the hoof to move through the loading phase and into the break-even phase with ease.

Cupping In An Equestrian Surface

Cupping, it’s a term not often used, however it describes the act of support for the hoof from the surface. With a surface that’s hard or simply too firm, you’ll find the horse’s hoof is prevented from penetrating the surface and therefore boasts minimal contact wit the ground. This hinders the frog’s ability to compress and send blood back up the limbs. Too soft a surface and the hoof will easily penetrate but won’t be given enough pressure around the hoof to maximise its usual mechanism of expanding and compressing the frog. This will in time damage the hoof capsule. 

The ideal surface will be soft enough to ‘cup’ around the hoof but firm enough to allow the hoof to do its job of expanding at the heel and compressing the frog.

Responsiveness In An Equestrian Surface

When we talk about responsiveness, we’re talking about how the surface returns energy to the horse as it rebounds following the horse’s hoof coming into the contact with it and subsequently moving on. If a surface is too firm, it will return energy too quickly and in turn, create too much shock vibrations. These will typically be absorbed by the horse’s bones and its joints – this isn’t good. If the surface is too deep however, the energy will be given back or ‘rebound’ too slowly making the horse push out of the surface. As you can imagine, this will increase the strain on the horse not only on muscles and other soft tissue but its cardiovascular system also.

A good surface will be active and springy, giving energy back to the horse at the rate that it’s applied. This won’t just reduce the possibility of injury but will reduce the horse’s need to use its own energy, reducing injury, strain and even fatigue.

Grip In An Equestrian Surface

Last but not least we’re looking at grip. What do we mean by this? Well, grip is determined by the tightness of the arena footing. Overly compacted or too tight and the horse will have too much grip. This will prevent the hoof from sliding forwards and down as it should during the three phases of movement. This won’t just restrict movement but become quite jarring, increasing the likelihood of concussion injury. A loose surface however will result in little to no grip allowing the hoof to slide too much, once again causing strain and often over-extension of the tendons and ligaments.

A good surface, with decent grip, will allow the hoof to slide slightly without any over-extension, giving stability especially during the break-over phase and allowing the horse to seamlessly move into the next stride without loss of energy or momentum.

Contact Us Today

Here at Foley’s Equestrian Surfaces, we’re proud to boast all-weather surfaces that provide the correct amount of grip, responsiveness, cupping, cushioning and firmness. Our materials are carefully chosen to ensure they do the job needed for both your horse’s protection and ability during training. 

Our surfaces make your riding sessions, whether it’s flatwork or jumping not only safe but enjoyable too. For more information on the surfaces we have available, simply contact us today on 01642 989 441 or email us via sales@foleysequestrian.co.uk.