Barn Flooring and Arena Footing: Steps to Better Health and Safety
By Classic Equine Equipment
That old saying about “accidents waiting to happen” is a nod to the importance of preparation. Careful inspection of your property can reveal areas in need of improvement. Uneven, slippery surfaces and poor-quality footing are one of the leading causes of injuries in barns and arenas. Worn-out flooring mats result in curled corners and gaps that increase the risk of tripping and falling. Poor footing in arenas may not provide the necessary support, cushion and stability that horses and riders count on.
The good news? You can take steps to prevent injuries and the costly downtime, expenses and distress that often come with such unfortunate incidents.
By stepping up to higher-quality flooring and footing solutions, you reduce the risks of injury while creating surfaces that absorb and minimize concussive shock. This provides horses and people with optimal traction, stability and support, along with the peace of mind that comes when health and safety measures have been implemented.
The Benefits of High-Quality Equestrian Flooring and Footing
Outfitting barn aisles, stalls and arenas with the right mix of high-quality rubber pavers, interlocking mats and premium footing solutions supports healthier joints, tendons and bones—contributing to the overall well-being of your horses. Support from proper footing also enhances the horse’s confidence in each step, efficiently returning energy during movement and contributing to improved performance. Similarly, for people, health is improved through reduced strain on their joints and bones, lowering the risk of injuries.
Create a Safer Living, Riding and Working Environment
As you move through stalls, aisles, wash bays, paddocks or arenas, confidence underfoot is essential. A wide range of products are available—each designed to enhance safety and comfort. Before selecting new flooring solutions or footing materials, be sure to consider three key factors:
- Climate: Fluctuating weather conditions—such as rain, ice, snow and extreme temperatures from intense heat to freezing—can impact flooring and surfaces. These conditions can cause flooring to buckle, crack, curl, move and become brittle.
- Size of operation: Larger facilities—those with 60 horses versus a barn with 6—can have a more dramatic impact on the lifespan of stall mattresses, barn flooring and arena footings.
- Discipline: Whether your arena is designed for jumping, reining or dressage, there are appropriate footings available to allow maximum uptime and overall health and performance of your horses.
Flooring and Footing Solutions In and Around Your Barn
Choose from a wide range of highly durable products for every area of your facility, providing that sense of safety you need, every step of the way.
Tru-Step® Interlocking Rubber Pavers create a nonslip barn surface in wet or dry conditions. These can be used for aisles, walkways, tack rooms, grooming stalls … In addition to safety, they add a decorative flair that is easy to maintain throughout your facility.
Tru-Step® pavers are available in black, grey and terracotta red colors, and the ‘dog bone’ shape gives you the option to create the pattern and look you desire.
StableComfort™ Stall Mattresses
StableComfort™ stall mattresses aid in a healthier horse in multiple ways. This innovative wall-to-wall horse stall mattress system mimics the feel of a natural pasture, allowing the horse to comfortably lie down and reduce the likelihood of contracting hock lameness.
Stall Mats and Wash Bay Mats
Curled corners on mats are a trip hazard for both horses and people. Loktuff mats are made of vulcanized rubber with an interlocking design, eliminating the risk of curling or changing shape due to pressure and use.
Stable-ity Grid for Mud Management
Designed for areas prone to becoming muddy and slick, Stable-ity Grid is an interlocking system used to stabilize the ground. These can be installed inside and out, creating safer surfaces for you and your horses.
Premium Arena Footings for Safety, Health and Performance
Premixed footing blends provide consistent riding surfaces for both indoor and outdoor arenas. Choose from dust-free and water-dependent solutions matched to your facility size and riding discipline.
Dust-Free Footing Solutions
- TravelRight™ – The signature blend from FootingFirst™, TravelRight™ is completely dust-free and provides excellent traction, stability and cushion.
- TravelBright™ – Like TravelRight™, this dust-free blend mimics characteristics of natural turf but is lighter and brighter in color.
- TraveLite™ – Formulated as a more cost-effective and versatile dust-free blend, TraveLite™ provides more movement and sheer.
- All-Right – This dust-free blend provides a good surface for western riding, as the sand provides more sheer than other FootingFirst™ blends. All-Right can be used for dressage, jumping, reining and racing.
- Superior Riding Surface (SRS) – When properly hydrated, SRS is a high-performance blend that will stand up to heavy traffic, providing excellent traction, stability and cushion.
- Econoblend – This water-dependent footing maintains rigid standards of safety and performance for both horse and rider while meeting the needs of smaller budgets.
Take steps to protect what matters most. Choose flooring and footing solutions that are designed and engineered to minimize risks.
For more information about these superior products, reach out to a Design Consultant at Classic Equine Equipment. Our experts can guide you through which options are right for your facilities and your budget.
