Developing a truly “green” equestrian amenity involves a comprehensive approach from beginning to end. Effective land planning decisions guide where an equestrian facility might best be located; on site design decisions work within the context of existing ecosystems and, and LEED certified design and construction supports sustainable facility operations and best management practices for the amenity.

To begin with, where a facility is located is the first step in developing a sustainable amenity. If an equestrian facility (and its associated community) is located far away from existing development, the environmental costs of transit, waste disposal and access to resources outweigh the “green” benefits of developing an equestrian facility. Finding ways to balance a “new ruralist” lifestyle with current Smart Growth techniques is one way an equestrian community and its associated facility can become a steward of the environment.

nce a site has been chosen that meets sustainable land use requirements, consideration should be given to regional issues, existing land cover, topography, and location of wetlands and sensitive natural areas when selecting the location of an equestrian facility on site. Developing with respect to the existing landscape and ecosystems is one of the first steps in creating a sustainable equestrian facility. Where you choose to locate your barn and covered arena, ancillary structures, pasture and circulation should always reflect the existing natural conditions onsite. A truly sustainable facility works with the existing landscape, not against it.

A truly “green” equestrian facility should also take into consideration stormwater management, onsite hay production and manure compositing. Stormwater management techniques such as pervious pavement options instead of asphalt or concrete, using bioswales to retain and filter stormwater before returning it to the ground, installing intensive green roofs to minimize runoff or utilizing a graywater catchments system to collect water for pasture or arena application are just a few ways to mitigate the environmental impacts of an equestrian facility. Conserving land for onsite hay production is yet another way an equestrian center can operate sustainably, especially as weather extremities threaten existing hay supplies nationwide. Manure management continues to be a buzzword in the equestrian community, and on site composting techniques are becoming more popular and easier for large-scale equestrian facilities to implement.

While standards for sustainable barn design currently do not exist, many of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED recommendations can be applied to barn design and construction. As stated previously, green roofs are highly beneficial for onsite mitigation of stormwater, and most barns consistently address natural lighting and ventilation concerns identified in the LEED for New Construction program. Utilizing existing standards in the design, construction and material selection of an equestrian facility is imperative when aspiring to create a truly “green” amenity.

Equestrian facilities are at an advantage to promote sustainable land use and construction practices nationwide. To be truly “green”, however, no one item listed above is enough. Sustainability is a comprehensive process, beginning with land use, site development choices, natural systems, green building design and sustainable site operations. While implementing any one of these measures is better than none, a truly “green” equestrian facility looks at how each step influences the next, and how a comprehensive approach produces superior results for horse, rider, and the environment both enjoy.

*The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

I was lucky enough to be able to participate in a wonderful clinic this past weekend at our O’Connor Signature facility at The Oaks of Lake City. We hosted a Centered Riding 2 day clinic taught by Heidi Potter who worked under the tutelage of the well respected and admired founder, Sally Swift. In this workshop, we focused and learned techniques on our body awareness and breathing.

Some people think of Centered Riding as yoga on horseback but it’s more about improving our balance, security and communication with our horse. What I discovered to be profound is how our mind can affect our riding. There were a couple of key aspects that I learned that I would like to share:

Awareness of your body

I bet we would all be amazed if we really took the time to recognize situations where we stop breathing or clinch our knees or do other things out of habit. For example; humor me and follow this exercise for a minute.

• Cross your arms...
• Cross your arms again...
• Was it the same arm on top both times?
• Now try it the other way... Does it feel weird?

The same thing can be tried with folding your hands. This proves to us that we are victims of habit and often will float through life and ride without being aware of our own bodies. Instead, practice using clear intent which we can all do through “ideokinesis” a word meaning “the idea you hold in your mind affects the way your body moves”.

Glass half empty or full?

One of the things that the clinician first asked us to do was to NOT think of a zebra…Now, what just happened as you read that? Bet you thought of a Zebra…J Precisely what we did too. She explained that our minds don’t process negatives. Instead it causes us to react in just the way that we are trying to avoid. If we say to ourselves when riding, “don’t get tight, don’t’ get tight, don’t get tight” …we usually end up..getting tight. Instead, if we change our thinking and tell ourselves to relax our breathing then our mind processes that information and we have positive images versus the negative.

75/25% Rule

Another profound realization was that she taught us to focus 75% of our energy on ourselves and 25% of our energy on the horse. If we are not correct then the horse cannot perform correctly. This can also be used in our teaching.

Brakes?

Last but not least. I loved this thought for all riders out there that can tend to get too “handsy” with their half halts. We have all been there. Just remember, we don’t want to stop their mouth…we want to stop their feet!

Rhonda Gailey
Resident Equestrian Facility Manager
The Oaks Equestrian Center - an O'Connor Signature Facility

A Riding Arena Footing Primer

Horse people tend to be very particular in their likes and dislikes. You can ask one hundred different horse people their opinion on one product and get almost one hundred different answers. Riding arena footing preferences are a great example of this. Opinions and likes vary from discipline to discipline and even from person to person within each separate discipline. Footing is the material found on the surface of an engineered riding arena. English arena riding falls basically into two categories: dressage and hunter/jumpers. Dressage enthusiasts typically like their footing a bit deeper than the jumpers. In the western disciplines, footing depths are generally split into two categories: barrel racing and reining. Here the reiners typically like their footing deeper than barrel racers. Footing depths generally vary between 2 and 5 inches, depending on material type and riding style.

The basic job of footing remains the same for all disciplines. It should cushion the horse’s hooves, and provide Discipline-appropriate traction (which includes the ability of the reining horses to slide). The footing should be non-toxic, odor free, and as dust free as possible. It should also be consistent through out the arena (i.e., level, of uniform depth and firmness, etc.). When deciding which footing is right for you and your horses – ride it before you buy it. A particular footing or additive may feel great in your hand and feel completely different under hoof. Find a facility that has the kind of footing you are considering and ride on it – most footing manufacturers can provide you with a list of farms using their product. It is also recommended that you talk to the people who use it regularly and those responsible for maintaining it. Pertinent questions to ask include: How many riders use the arena per day/week? When was the footing installed? How much did it cost (both material and installation)? How often is the arena groomed and with what tool? What they are using for dust control – and if water, how much, how often, and how applied? Answers to these questions will help you decide on the best footing to meet your riding needs, budget, and time/maintenance threshold.

The following sections describe a variety of footing materials and additives, but are by no means exhaustive. Every year new products arrive on the market and many may prove to be excellent. In any event, it is important to have clear expectations regarding the performance of your footing (as well as the manufacturer and the contractor installing the material). Footing can be very costly to install and even more costly to replace if you are dissatisfied. So it is very important to do your homework and make your decisions wisely.

Another important rule of thumb when installing your footing – less is more. Even on the most tightly compacted base there will be some co-mingling of base and footing (effectively increasing the volume of footing). Start with less material than you think you will need because it is much easier to add additional material to your arena, than to remove it.

Stone Dust Footing

Here in the East, it is common to see arenas with a product known as stone dust (a.k.a. blue stone or #10 screenings) as the footing. Typically stone dust is used as the engineered base of the riding arena because it compacts well and does not contain large stones. Some excavators will compact the stone dust then add additional stone dust in its loose form as the footing on top. It is more difficult to maintain this type of arena as the tendency is for all of the material to become highly compacted. With no clear delineation between footing and base (as opposed to the footing in the next section) and the need for more frequent and aggressive harrowing to keep the riding surface from becoming rock-hard, it requires a skilled operator to keep the compacted material level (it will tend to have rolling waves) with a consistent “fluffy” layer above it. Stone dust is the lowest cost material to use as footing and may be appropriate for you if the additional maintenance needs and the possibility of a less level surface will not adversely affect your riding.

Sand Footing

By far, the most common substance used for footing is sand. Sand is most frequently used as a stand-alone footing, but is also the used with other lofting agents (see below). Sand placed over an engineered base composed of compacted stone dust is fairly easy to maintain. Sand will not harden like stone dust and when dragging, one can differentiate between fluffing the sand and harrowing into the base. Sand is the next most affordable footing material after stone dust. While there are a wide variety of sands marketed to equestrians, a washed concrete sand (ASTM C-33) is a good place to start. To meet the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications, all C-33 sands must meet specific particle size requirements (i.e., they are washed to remove fine, dust-causing particles and screened to remove all larger pebbles and rocks). There are two broad categories of sand available: manufactured sand which is produced as a product from rock crushing, and natural sand which is mined from wherever it has been deposited (e.g., river bed sand or bank sand). The chemical composition of the material from which the sand is made will also affect its performance in the ring. Generally speaking, a hard (e.g., quartz), angular C-33 sand will resist breakdown and provide good traction in your arena.

Lofting Agents

People often prefer to add a lofting agent to sand to help with active recovery, retain moisture, and to add more cushion and spring. This list is seemingly endless with new products coming on the market almost monthly. To date there are three major categories on the market: rubber/plastic products, fiber products, and wood products.

Rubber Products

A wide variety of rubber and plastic products are available for use as lofting agents for your arena. Some, like crumb rubber (made from recycled tires), have been around for many years. Others, including ground sneakers or tennis balls, shredded surgical rubber, and stripped electrical wire casings have come to market more recently. Rubber lofting agents provide additional cushioning for your riding surface. In addition, many (the crumb rubbers in particular) help retain moisture by some of the material “floating” to the top of the sand and creating a “lid” to keep moisture in. the darker colored materials also absorb heat from the sun and will stay rideable longer in cold weather than sand-only footings. When installed correctly, these footings can provide a low maintenance, all weather quality riding surface both indoors and out.

Any of these products may be ideal for your situation and many are quite costly. It is important to be clear on what you are buying and what to expect. Even within the crumb rubber footings, cost, quality, and guarantees will vary greatly. Again, try it before you buy it and look for clear (i.e., written) information on how the product will perform and how the manufacturer will stand behind their product.

Fabric/Fiber Products

Fabric and fiber based lofting agents have been used in Europe for some time and are now finding their way into arenas on this side of the Atlantic. Synthetic felt is ground into small pieces and mixed with sand. Alternatively, the short fibers from which the felt is made is mixed with sand to create a cushioning and moisture retaining footing. The fabric or fibers create virtually no dust as they wear. These footings are perhaps best suited for indoor arenas as the fibers and fabric are quite light weight and have a tendency to be blown by the wind. As grinding the felt requires specialized machinery, there are few sources for the material and it is fairly expensive. It generally performs at its best when installed in an indoor arena and is consistently watered with an irrigation system.

Wood Products

Wood products can provide cushioning and moisture retention for a sand-based footing. Chips and shredded material can also vary in size and texture creating inconsistent footing. As they are organic, these products will eventually decompose and lead to dusty (if dry) or compacted and/or slippery (if wet) conditions in your arena. Engineered wood fiber products are more durable and consistent and reduce these issues. All wood products need to be replenished every couple of years (depending on conditions, arena traffic, etc.). Peat moss is another wood product used as an additive to arena footing. It can be mixed with other lofting agents to help maintain moisture content, but will only perform well if monitored and watered consistently. If not maintained properly, the peat moss dries and footings can become quite slippery.

Coated Sand

Another type of sand based footing is the polymer or wax coated sand. The polymer and wax coated sands are guaranteed to be dust free. In creating these materials, each individual particle of sand is coated to prevent dust. The material is engineered to have appropriate frictional characteristics for traction (it has the look and feel of brown sugar). Since it requires no water, it does not freeze. It does not compact so requires only minor grooming. Manufacturers offer differing claims of the durability of their products with the more durable being the more expensive. And expensive it can be. Footing for a 20m by 60m ring can cost between fifty and one hundred thousand dollars.

Dust Control

Watering is still the most widely used form of dust control. It is safe and reliable. The most efficient method for watering an indoor arena is an overhead system. Overhead systems are very expensive, but provide the most consistent uniform coverage. Kickwall-mounted rotor systems cannot provide even, consistent water coverage. By design, the circular spray pattern creates areas where the rotors overlap (that will tend to be wet) and areas where there are gaps between the sprays (that will be dry). This is less of an issue with outdoor arenas as rotors can be designed to only have overlap and the sloped base allows excess water to flow off the ring (like when it rains). New traveling irrigation systems are quite affordable and are very versatile in that you can use them in your indoor arena or outdoor arena. And they are quite efficient in putting down even, consistent water over the entire arena.

Some facilities are mixing in magnesium chloride in lieu of using an irrigation system to maintain a dust free riding environment. The main concern with magnesium chloride is the drying effect it may have on the horse’s hooves. If using magnesium chloride for freezing prevention or dust control, it is recommended you frequently oil/moisturize the hooves and rinse the hooves off after riding on the footing.

Another dust control procedure involves spraying a non-toxic synthetic liquid over the footing. Similar in principle to polymer coated sand, the liquid theoretically coats each particle of footing, trapping the dust in the sand. Regular harrowing is required to keep the materials properly mixed. With continued riding, both the sand and the liquid will degrade requiring additional applications every 6 to 12 months depending on use.

Michael M. Donovan – Arena Designer & Consultant Nationwide
Principal, Equestrian Services, LLC