Proven Ways to Enhance Your Riding Arena’s Footing

There is just something so incredible about riding on a freshly groomed arena. Honestly, there is nothing like it. The way your horse seems to float through the footing and how every step feels as if there is a cushion. Honestly, it is magical. And while I might be a little dramatic in explaining it, there is something to be said for excellent footing in an arena. Did you know that there are things you can do to make your arena this good? There are! And there are many factors that affect the quality of your arena surface, such as the type of material, the depth, the drainage, and the maintenance. Here are some proven ways to enhance your riding arena’s footing.

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The Footing

When selecting a material for your footing, you have a few options to consider. Some of the most popular choices are sand, dirt/clay, or a combination of the two. Sand is a great option as it offers excellent traction and cushioning. Although it has its benefits, it can also be dusty and abrasive.
If you are lucky and have access to sand, you can add it to your arena a little at a time. Or you can look for options from landscaping centers for affordable sand. And it might seem like it is really cheap – like $27 a ton for arena sand. But depending on the size of your arena will determine how much sand you really need.

A ton may sound like a lot. That is until you get it delivered and find out a ton of sand doesn’t really go very far.

How to Improve Your Riding Arena

Dirt/clay is cheaper and more natural but can compact and harden over time. A dirt-sand mix can offer the best of both worlds, providing the right amount of grip, rebound, and slide without the tendency to compact and harden.

This is what my arena is right now. A mixture of dirt and clay. Mostly clay. So for my arena, I need to add more dirt and sand to make it what I want it to be.
You can add different types of footing to your existing arena. But these additions can be costly. If you are just getting started with your arena and are looking for the most cost-effective solution, stick with what you already have and work with it.

How to Determine Footing Depth

Adjust the depth of your footing based on your riding discipline and personal preference. This ensures optimal performance during your rides. Generally, 2 to 4 inches of footing atop a firm base is relatively standard for a riding arena. For more active sports (cow horse, roping, barrel racing), the deeper ground may be best. In contrast, a shallower depth is best for general work.

You will want to make sure there is good drainage for your arena too. This is especially important for outdoor arenas that are subject to changing weather. You can use perforated pipes within the base layer to ensure the arena drains adequately and evenly. But this can be expensive to add to an already existing arena. You can also use a geotextile material between the base and the top layer to prevent sand grains from sifting down and blocking the drainage system. But again, this is a costly addition to consider.
I found that adding sand to the existing arena was helpful and has kept my arena in relatively good working condition without the added cost of adding a drainage system or a geotextile layer.

Keeping the Ground Good

Once you have your arena, you will want to maintain your arena surface regularly. You have worked hard to get it into top shape. You will need to water, harrow, and level your arena surface to keep the ground consistent and safe.

Watering adds beneficial stabilization and grip, keeps dust out of the air, and binds materials. If it is an option, add a sprinkler to your arena’s edge to help water it.

How to Improve Your Riding Arena

Harrowing loosens a compact surface, mixes sand particles and footing products, and eliminates ruts in high-traffic areas. And there are lots of methods for harrowing.

For example, an arena drag is an affordable way to loosen compacted surfaces. And you can pull it behind a riding lawn mower or a tractor. You can find them on Amazon for about $270. And these are excellent tools to have for quick resurfacing. If you are looking for an affordable ‘first step’ into getting arena equipment, this is the way to go.

But if you’re ready for a more significant investment and want more for your arena grooming capabilities, consider an arena groomer. Which I will talk about more in one moment.

Arena Groomers

The ultimate tool for your arena is an arena groomer. They come in different styles and price ranges. Arena groomers are great because they harrow the ground and level it too. Leveling evens the surface and removes divots, deep/shallow, and hard spots.
I did extensive research on arena groomers before I decided on the one I bought. And for me, there were 3 different groomers that would work well for my personal needs.

DragNfly

The DragNfly comes from Carolina Arena Equipment. And oh, how I love this drag. I mean, look at it. It’s a beast! The unique design of the DragNfly features heavy-duty side rub rails. A row of adjustable, aggressive ripper teeth are offset, having a spacing of 4 inches and a working depth of up to 4 inches.
The rear 2 rows of spring tines are offset and can be adjusted by a manual ratchet or an optional hydraulic cylinder. These spring tines provide the ultimate surface mixing.

The rear bar roller pulverizes and packs to the desired density, leaving an attractive pattern finish.
The DragNfly handles all types of footings and can be pulled with a small tractor, ATV, UTV, golf cart, etc.
Now this was my first choice. I really wanted this groomer! But – this was also out of my budget. At the time of writing this post, the D60″ (5 foot wide) is $3000. And then, you have to add in the shipping fees of $950, so the grand total would be $3950. OUCH. A little more than I had available to spend. But oh, how I dream of this arena groomer.

They use a much larger version of this at the Colorado Horse Park. You know, the place I show you all the time. And after seeing these groomers in action is why it made the top of my list.

Parma Arena Groomer

And you can actually get this groomer from SmartPak. I guess they truly do have everything, don’t they? The Parma Arena Groomer prepares your base as well as the top surface in one pass can improve your horse’s performance and save stress on his legs simultaneously.

The unit uses vibrating “S” or “Coil” tines, depending on your footing type, that can be set to your desired digging depth to leave a well-prepared base. Following the tines is a leveling bar that will shave off high spots and carry dirt to fill holes as you pass over the arena. To the rear of the machine is a roller that conditions the surface and gauges the depth of the tines to leave a uniform finish on your arena.
And the Parma groomer has a price of $2800. Now SmartPak says the unit has free ground shipping, but I have read reviews that have stated otherwise.

EZ Groomer

Now this is the unit I decided to buy. And yes, the price point was a significant factor in my decision. The EZ GROOMER is a top-quality tool, and it works well in all types of footing. Their drags come in sizes from 4 feet up to 12 feet wide.

The EZ Groomer is also the most affordable option. I have the 4-foot size. It works well for my arena and also fits in my garage. Also, the fact that it matches my tractor, well, is an added bonus. Gotta be matchy-matchy, right? We keep the groomer on our tractor at all times.
They also have an ATV version if you don’t have a tractor. The shipping time is a bit tricky. To keep the shipping cost lower, it takes a while to get it. I placed my order in August, and I got it in October. But it was well worth the wait.

How to Improve Your Riding Arena

Now, the price. The 4-foot EZ groomer is $1649, and you do have to add in shipping. If I remember correctly, the shipping added around $280, so the entire cost was $1929. And I have had mine for over 4 years now with zero problems.

It does make the dirt look great too. I have been very impressed with my EZ groomer. So much, in fact, that I made a video about it.

Keeping Your Arena Looking Great

And one last thought on keeping your arena in tip-top shape and looking great. Be sure to remove any manure or debris from your arena after each ride. This will help to prevent contamination and possible infection of your horse’s hooves and skin. Also, as waste breaks down, the organic material will cause more dust in your arena. So keep the manure cleaned up for less dust while you are riding. It will also keep your arena looking neat and tidy.

How to Improve Your Riding Arena

I hope this was helpful for you if you, like me, are working through getting your arena in top shape for riding. It is not a one-and-done type of project. Having your own arena does take some work. But the little bit of work will be worth it when you have a beautiful arena to ride your horse in!

Happy Riding!