For horses in training, the surface on which they move is important. In addition to trotters, stress injuries are also common in riding horses, although they come from different types of stress, such as jumping. Injuries in horses do not occur suddenly, but rather as the legs are subjected to continuous stress. Small damage occurs to the tendon, which can eventually lead to a tendon rupture. Excessive load and short recovery periods worsen the injury, and the micro-damages do not have time to recover between training sessions.
Carefully cared for feet withstand more strain and give the horse more years of use. In addition to care, it is not unimportant what kind of surface the horse is trained on. A good riding surface prevents accidents and injuries. During the winter season, many riders move to training indoors only. In order for maneges and riding halls to remain in good condition, the surfaces must be maintained regularly. It is not enough to "sand" the surface every now and then, it must be taken care of by a person who has sufficient knowledge and the necessary tools. The better the surface is cared for, the longer it will last.
In the arena or in the field?
In Finland, riding stables are heavily used in the winter, and the luckiest riders train indoors at least from autumn to spring. The northern climate means that the conditions in our outdoor arenas and riding halls are very different. The moisture in the surface layers, the freezing of the floors, and the ruts cause challenges for stable keepers. Rainwater from the outdoor arena should be able to drain through the layers and be directed elsewhere, for example by means of drainage.
The riding surface should be firm, flexible, but not too soft. It should roll slightly under the hoof, so to speak, so that the shocks to the horse's leg are weaker. For the surface to work, the material must be evenly distributed over the entire area, the materials must be well mixed, and the humidity must be appropriate. It is also a good idea to collect manure soon so that the base material or fabric does not get ruined.
From the point of view of the horse's tendons and joints, it would be ideal for riding to be done on as diverse a surface as possible, i.e. in addition to a manege or field, in the countryside, in the forest, on soft and even occasionally on small amounts of hard ground. However, use common sense and put safety first. Of course, you shouldn't just go and ride in any logging area.
Good maintenance is the be-all and end-all of everything.
If a riding arena or manege is in active use, deep ruts can easily form in the surface layer. Especially in riding schools, where riding is largely done in sections, ruts can form during the day. As a first aid measure, it is a good idea to at least rake the rut to make it smaller and fill it with loose sand.
Sand or a mixture of sand and other materials is mostly used in the surface layer. The most common materials were plastic chips, sawdust, rubber chips and fiber. In addition to maintaining the manege or field, the base material should prevent injuries and help the horse move as correctly as possible. Biohansa's Bacher ArenaGrip fiber improves the flexibility of the riding surface and creates an all-round safe training environment for both the rider and the horse. The mixture is environmentally friendly and resistant to UV radiation. The material is polyester, which does not harden and is therefore suitable for outdoor and indoor use. ArenaGrip requires little maintenance and can be added at any time if necessary.
New surface material is often added as needed, i.e. approximately every couple of years. Complete renewal of the surface or base is less common, as the aim is naturally to build a field or arena from the beginning without fear of major repairs at a later stage.
As mentioned, maintenance is easier with proper equipment. A professional-level maneskire lath is available through Biohansa, which is adjustable and works without hydraulics. For example, you have to be careful with the fiber. Too much fiber in the sand also makes the surface too sticky and therefore dangerous. In addition, long fibers are difficult and if the sand dries, the fiber can rise to the surface. The previously mentioned lath is equipped with an edge cultivator, which moves the sand accumulated next to the maneskire wall away from the edges and a mesh roller compacts the surface. The lath can be adjusted to suit the maintenance of different substrates.
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Sources:
Stress injuries in riding horses, part 1/2 Playsson.net
About the care of the riding arena floor | Horse Information Center
Photos:
Pixabay
