Arena Sand Specifications
UNDERSTANDING ARENA FOOTING – BASIC FACTS:
Poor footing issues: If the arena footing is hard, the horse will shorten its stride to
minimize jarring or adversely modify his jumping form to avoid the sting of landing.
Hard footing will also stress their joints. If footing is too soft and rolls away under
the hooves, it will cause strain to their soft tissues – tendon, ligaments, and muscles. If the footing is slippery, or insufficient so that the hooves penetrate to a slippery 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 PROPERTIES:
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 supportive 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:
There 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 formed between water molecules that
acts to hold wet sand together and can help stabilize rounded sand footing that
would otherwise roll if dry.
*Fines including clay, silt and organic matter will hold moisture for longer periods
of time, however these fines will become dust when completely dried out.
Hard vs Cushiony Footing:
Each discipline has its’ own requirements for the amount of give and rebound that
enhances optimal performance. The firmer footing with good traction that helps
jumpers to safely push off may not have enough cushion to preserve the joints of
an aging dressage horse, while arenas needing all-around capabilities cannot be
specialized to either extreme. Understanding the needs of the arena users will help
you make the proper selections in sand and additives.
ABOUT SAND
Sand is the general term for the broken down granules of rocks. Sand is smaller
than gravel, but larger than silt or clay.
Why is the right sand so important? Sand is the key ingredient in all good arena
footing. However, not every sand is suitable for riding arenas.
Sand Types:
Natural Sand: Natural sand has eroded from mountain rock and is mined from
where it was deposited. The host rock determines the exact mineral composition,
however most sand is composed of silica, from broken down quartz crystals. This
type of sand is extremely resistant to weathering and breakdown due to its chemical hardness, and will last longer as arena footing. These hard sand particles have
been transported and tumbled by water, and the time spent tumbling determines
an angular or round grain shape.
Manufactured Sand: Rock quarries crush rock into various sizes, and the smallest
particles are called ‘fines’ and sold as Manufactured Sand, Man-made Sand,
Crusher Fines, or Stone Dust. These particles range from 5 mm to fine dust, are
sharp and will tightly compact if used alone. The mineral composition can range
widely, and these particles are not the hard “surviving” quartz grains of tumbling
river action, so they may be softer and break down to dust sooner.
Sand Shape:
The next characteristic of sand is its shape:
Crusher Fines or Man-Made Sands will have very sharp tendencies. Sharp, very
angular materials are prone to fit tightly together and compact, but do offer good
traction. A small amount of manufactured sand can be useful to add stabilization
to rolling footing with very round sand grains. ProStride Arena Footing is a good
solution for these type of sands. The rubber will help cushion the surface and add
voids lessoning the compaction.
Natural Sands will have sub-angular to rounded grains, because the sharp edges
have been worn off, so they don't fit as tightly together. Sub –angular grains
lessen compaction while still giving traction. Round grained sand will not compact
because all the edges have been worn off. Although round particles create more
voids and therefore offer more cushioning, they are very unstable and will roll and
not provide any traction. So, when selecting natural sand, you need to collect samples from different sources and look at the sand grains with a strong magnifying
lens to compare the general particle shape, and then select the most angular.
Angular
Sub Angular
Round
Sand Sizes:
Sand is defined by its size rather than what type of mineral it is. Particle size or
grain size refers to the diameter of a grain of granular material. Technically, particles that fall between one-sixteenth of a millimeter to two millimeters in diameter
are referred to as Sand. To determine a sand granule size, a
sample is vibrated through a set of sieves of known mesh
sizes to give the percentage that passes each numbered
sieve. Most sand producers will have a technical data sheet
available for the types of sand they sell. This technical data
sheet will have a passing column showing the size of sand
that passed through each particular sieve. The majority (90%) of grain sizes will be
in the range of the sieve sizes referenced here for each sand type, with a very small
fraction larger or smaller sizes. Having this information will help you to determine
what type or size of sand you will want for your arena footing. The company selling
the sand will be able to help you read their data sheets.
The photos below illustrate Fines, Masonry and Concrete Sand. Please keep in
mind every quarry across the country will have different names and types of sand.
Be sure to use the specifications and sizes to determine what sand you will need
and not the local names. Although ‘Concrete Sand’ and ‘Masonry Sand’ are fairly
standard specifications as to grain size, ‘Arena Sand’ could mean anything.
Pit Run: Sand excavated and sold
“as is” without grading or washing, is called pit run. It will have a
wide variation from large grains
to dust fines and the properties
are determined by the sand deposit, which may vary within the
quarry.
Fines: Fines, clay and silt, can be very small and easily become airborne and promote dust. The size of the fines in the photo above are
Fines
between .075mm (#200 sieve) and smaller. If your
arena consists mostly of fines and you have water available, our ProTex or GGT footing can help absorb the
fines and net the footing together, greatly decreasing
dust and loose particles that can be such an annoyance,
and even a health hazard.
Fine Silica Sand: Very pure, fine sand with particles between #60 sieve and #200
seive (or 60/200). Silica sand has sub-angular particles and is highly desirable for
use with textile footing additives, like ProTex or GGT Footing. It is not widely available, however, and may be expensive or hard to find in your area.
Masonry Sand: This particle shape can vary from round to sub-angular, depending
on the deposit and processing. Particle size for Masonry
Sand is between 0.60 mm (#30 sieve) to 0.15mm
(#100 sieve) (or 30/100). Masonry sand is a standardized size specification and is washed free of dust. GGT
Textile and ProTex work very well for this type of sand,
helping to stabilize the rounder particle and netting the
sand together for more traction.
Concrete Sand: Concrete sand is usually angular to sub-angular in shape. The particle size varies between 2.0mm (#10 sieve) - .3mm (#50 sieve) (or 10/50). Concrete Sand is a standardized size specification and is washed free of dust. If you
are not able to water your arena, Concrete Sand will help minimize dust, and a
good angulation of the grains will help keep it stable
underfoot. ProStride arena footing will help keep these
types of sands from compacting, creating voids and
adding cushioning to the surface, while preventing
rolling underfoot. ProStride will also minimize scuffing
on your horses hooves, from an angular abrasive sand.
With Masonry and Concrete sand, if a sand screw is used to filter particles, rather
than washing through screens, to process the sand you are more likely to have
good particle angulation. This is a question to ask the sand supplier.
Washed Sands: Getting a sand that is washed of all fines, will not be as stable of a
surface as a sand that contains some fines (under #200 mesh or sieve size). A
washed sand will have less dust, however a washed sand will have less traction,
less compaction and more shear. Be careful when choosing washed sands. If you
have water available an unwashed sand may be a better option. Be sure that the
particles that falls below a #200 sieve do not exceed 10% or dust may be an issue.
Sand Grading:
Another key element causing your sand to compact or stay loose is how well it is
graded. Grading is a combination of a range of different sized particles. Materials
that have all the same size particles will not compact, and may become shifty and
feel deep, whereas particles that range from large to very small granules will nest
and compact. A happy medium of a moderate range of sand size grading will help
keep your footing firm but not compacted. Important: The sieve size range to look
for will depend on what type of additive you are adding or if it is a sand only arena.
There are an enormous variety of sand qualities out there. The combination of all
the above sand quality factors decides whether the sand is suitable as footing or
not. Sand that is well suited for a highly maintained indoor riding arena might be
completely unsuitable for an all-weather, low maintenance outdoor riding arena.
Choosing the wrong sand can create a lot of problems and in the long run can be
very expensive
Unfortunately you are somewhat limited to using a material that is located in your
area, as trucking sand in from long distances can be extremely costly. So we usually
settle for what is available to us locally. Your contractor or supplier will be able to
assist you with the different types of material located in your area. This is where
footing additives can help solve many of the dilemmas associated with local sand.
Note: All our footings are designed to be mixed with sand. There are, however, significant varieties in sand types and qualities available on the market. Not all sands are appropriate to use as footing for your equestrian arena. There are many factors you should
consider in determining the appropriate sand, including, without limitation, your riding
style, the number of horses using the arena and the duration of such arena use, watering capability for the ring, the status of any current existing footing materials, seasonal
weather conditions, and whether you ride on an indoor or outdoor horse arena. Combining GGT- Footing, ProStride, and ProTex with the correct type of sand is required in
order to build a safe ring surface. Please choose properly sized arena sand based on your
proposed use. Mixing and installation is the responsibility of the customer. Premier
Equestrian is not liable for your installation. However we can make recommendations
and have your sand analysed to qualify it’s integrity. If you have concerns about mixing
and installation we can recommend a qualified arena builder.
Properties of Footing Additives:
ProStride® Arena Footing, is a crumb-rubber horse arena footing formulated to exacting specifications and is designed to be mixed with sand. Several more recycling
processes results in a cleaner, more consistent
material. Your arena riding surface is greatly improved, minimizing leg concussion and protecting your horse's tendons and joints, it also helps
prevent injury and improve your horse's performance. Rubber prolongs sand life by minimizing sand grain breakdown. ProStride works best with large angular particles, such
as Concrete Sands, manufactured sands or stone dust.
®
Athletex® Footing is designed to give you maximum cushioning while retaining moisture and adding stability. Athletex is made from recycled athletic
shoes. It is a mixture of rubber and textile. We use rubber for cushion and textile for stability. Footing made
from recycled athletic shoes provides reduced shear, stable traction and durable cushioning. Athletex is suited for dressage, jumping, western pleasure, vaulting, and all other types of arenas.
Because of the traction and cushioning provided by Athletex it performs excellent for multi-purpose arenas, and can be used with a
wide varieties of different sands.
GGT-Footing, and ProTex Non-Woven Textiles: Textiles will minimizes compaction,
while stabilizing sand particles, and deliver
cushioning and energy rebound. Textile footing works best with finer grained sand, which
is small enough to be pounded into the textile fiber through mixing and hoof impact,
helping to integrate the sand and textile to
form a matrix with good shear resistance.
Textiles absorb water for longer moisture retention, reducing watering frequency.
Important: Sufficient moisture to keep footing damp is necessary with textile additives.
However, since the textile holds moisture longer than sand, textiles will reduce watering.
Professional grooming equipment is required for installation and maintenance. (See The
Premier Groomer or Parma Groomer)
ProTex Plus and Masters Blend are formulated to
give you the optimal surface. By mixing a perscription of our textiles with rubber products, this mix
will yeild you the highest stabilization along with
supier cushioning. Stability retards strain on soft
tissues, like tendons and ligaments, while cushioning eliminates joint impact and concussion.
Contact our sales staff today to help you design an arena surface perfect
for your riding discipline and enviroment.
Renew old broken down arena surfaces with Premier Equestrian footing additives
Our textile products will stabilize broken down or loose surfaces, bind the sand together as well as aid in moisture retention and dust control. These Textile products
will help bind old broken down dusty surfaces, and create a more level top coat.
Great for a base that is uneven or non-existent. The textile will help absorb dust
fines as well as bond the sand particles together creating a matrix, stabilizing your
sand. Horse hooves will stay on the top of the surface. The textiles prevent the hoof
from penetrating through the footing surface to the base, therefore creating a level
top surface to camouflage an inadequate base.
Figure #1 - Shows a footing surface
that is too deep or has a loose sand.
This type of surface will have large
indentations from the hoofprint
Figure #1
Figure #2 - Shows the same surface
after adding a textile. Notice how the
sand was stabilized. The hoofprint is
now the desired depth of 1/2” - 1”
Figure #2
Water is an important factor in maintaining and mixing the textile products. A professional grade arena groomer is also a key factor in maintaining this textured surface. Premier Equestrian offers several different designs built especially for footing
additives. All our groomers can be used with a 3-point hitch or a tongue and screwjack can be attached to pull with a ATV or lawn tractor.
The Premier Water Groomer allows you to water while you groom.
This is a great option for watering if a sprinkling system is not in place.
The Premier Groomer with
Water Tank attachment
Parma Arena Groomer
visit our products at www.PremierEquestrian.com
Sand Specifications for GGT Footing, ProTex and ProTex Plus; The type of sand used
for textiles should be a fine well graded silica or quartz sand. Particle size should
range between a No. 60 sieve and No. 200 sieve, with 3% - 7% of the sand falling
below the #200. Use an unwashed sand or silica sand. See range chart below for
acceptable sand particle sizes that will work with our textile products.
Additional additives that may help reduce watering and dust.
Hydro-Keep: Non-toxic concentrated chemical
crystal that rapidly absorbs excess water, and
releases it back into the footing over time,
with expanding and contracting action that
helps to reduce footing compaction. Reduces
watering frequency; optimum effects are
achieved with infrequent, but heavy water
applications. The life expectancy for an outdoor
arena is less, as the polymer will break down in
sunlight.
Hydro-Keep
Arena Hydrator
Magnesium Chloride (MgCl): Non-toxic chemical compound with Hygroscopic action (absorbs moisture out of the surrounding air) to keep footing damp without
watering (in locations with sufficiently high atmospheric humidity), or to prolong
arena watering (in locations with low humidity). Very useful to keep footing in unheated indoor arenas from freezing in winter, and mirrors from icing. Not recommended for outdoor arenas- will prevent arenas from drying after heavy
precipitation.
Choosing the best combination of sand and Premier Equestrian Footing Product for
your arena. To help narrow down the range of footing choices, it is best to select
according to your situation regarding available sand material, maintenance level,
watering, and humidity conditions, then refine choices according to your riding discipline(s). A professional type of grooming equipment is recommended for textile
footings.
OUTDOOR ARENA:
High maintenance, with frequent harrowing and regular watering (so the footing
remains damp): Suggested depth 2.5” - 3” of sand
A. Silica sand (see acceptable ranges of sand chart) mix with
GGT-Footing , ProTex, ProTex Plus or Masters Blend Arena Footing
B. Sand/Clay silt work well with Textile Footings and Athletex.
C. Concrete Sand, Stone Dust or manufactured sands use ProStride or
Athletex Arena Footing
D. Stone Dust/ Sand mixed with ProStride or
Athletex Arena Footing
Lower maintenance, with little or no watering and weekly harrowing:
A. Concrete Sand, of the most angular particles you can find, slighty
washed combined with ProStride Arena Footing.
INDOOR ARENA:
High Maintaintenance, with frequent harrowing and regular watering (so that the
footing remains damp): Suggested depth 2.5” - 3” of sand
A. Silica sand (see acceptable ranges of sand chart) mix with
GGT-Footing, ProTex or Masters Blend Arena Footing
B. Sand/Clay silt mix with GGT-Footing, ProTex, Athletex Arena Footing
C. Existing broken down sand with dust and fine particles
Mix with GGT-Footing, ProTex or ProTex Plus for the sands above
D. Concrete Sand, Stone Dust or Manufactured Sand, unwashed or
slightly washed. Mixed with ProStride or Athletex
Lower Maintenance, with infrequent watering and harrowing as needed:
A. Silica sand (see acceptable ranges of sand chart) mix with ProTex Arena
Footing plus Hydro-Keep Arena Hydrator or MagCl.
B. Concrete Sand, Stone Dust or Manufactured Sand, mix with ProStride
or Athletex Arena Footing and Hydro-Keep or MagCl.
C. Concrete Sand, ProStride Arena footing, MagCl (If minimal water)
NEW CONSTRUCTION ARENAS
Building a professional base is always best. However, this can be very expensive
and in today's economy not always possible. If you have the funds to build a professional base, you will have more options for what types of footing you can use, and
your arena will perform much better over a long period of time. Again, you may be
limited to what sands and aggregates are available in your area. To determine what
type of footing you will want on the top layer, get different samples from your local
pits or quarries. See the previous suggestions for the different sand types and footing additives.
TROUBLESHOOTING EXISTING ARENAS:
If your base is not perfect or your footing is a problem, here are some suggestions
to help improve your riding surface:
Silt fines or Sugar Sand: If you are in an area of naturally fine sandy ground, outdoor arenas can become deep with use. If your arena consists mostly of fines, and
you have water available, our GGT-footing or ProTex can help absorb the fines and
knit the footing together creating a matrix and level surface, greatly decreasing
dust and loose particles that can be such an annoyance, and even a health hazard.
Rolling Sand: If you have water available, Athletex (for more coarse sand) or GGTFooting or ProTex (for fine sand) will help give traction underfoot. Adding some
fines may also help stabilization. If you do not have any water available, adding
ProStride 25% to 30% (by depth) will help minimize rolling in dry sand. (Removing
some of the depth is recommended). For finer sand, you will need more frequent
harrowing to keep the ProStride rubber mixed in than with coarse sand.
Dusty Clay base arenas: GGT-Footing, ProTex, or Masters Blend integrates well with
fine clay particles as with fine sand particles. Since clay retains moisture easily,
adding GGT-Footing or ProTex may work well with less added water than needed
for sand. If plenty of natural rain is the problem or a clay arena is slippery, GGT or
ProTex Plus, harrowed in, will add traction and cushioning with the rubber particles, while binding the clay particles to the textile and stabilizing the suface while
eliminating shear.
Dust and Freezing footing in unheated indoor arenas: Many of the additives that
improve footing require moisture. If your indoor arena is unheated, MagCl is safe to
add to all our footing products to keep your footing moist and unfrozen. As an
added benefit, MagCl will draw moisture out of the air, preventing mirrors from
icing in winter and reducing humidity in the air so it feels warmer. In areas of high
winter humidity, the moisture that MagCl draws out of the air and into the footing
may help prevent dust where watering is minimal or not possible.
Please contact our sales team for any questions you might have concerning your
arena footing surface. Premier Equestrian is dedicated to promoting safe and
enjoyable riding for you and your horse. Call 800-611-6109 for a free consultation
www.amec.com
to find an office near you.
Amec is one of the world’s leading environmental and engineering consulting
organizations. Their full service capabilities cover a wide range of disciplines,
including environmental engineering and science, geotechnical engineering,
water resources, materials testing, engineering and surveying, and
program management.
For a Free Sand Analysis or to determine which footing amendment is right
for your new or existing sand send us a small sand sample to:
Premier Equestrian
8385 South Allen St.
Suite. 101
Sandy, UT 84070
Be sure to include your name and phone number with the
sample and what discipline you ride.
©2013 Premier Equestrian, LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way or by any
means without the permission in writing from Premier Equestrian, LLC.
*Premier Equestrian offers footing amendments and can guide you to find a footing solution that
will work for you and your budget, enabling you to have a great footing for a fraction of the cost of
competing products or arena builders. However, choosing the correct sand and particle size is
your responsibility and results may vary depending on what is available in your area and the quality of your installation.Premier Equestrian is not responsible or liable for your installation.
PREMIER EQUESTRIAN DOES NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY
KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO ANY SERVICE OR PRODUCT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS CONCERNING
MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, PERFORMANCE,
QUALITY, OR THAT PRODUCTS OR SERVICES WILL BE ERROR-FREE.
www.PremierEquestrian.com
800-611-6109
801-446-1857 fax 801-566-4112
8385 South Allen St. • Suite 101 • Sandy, UT 84070