Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Dust can be reduced by various methods. Soil particle size can be increased by replacing
the footing or amending the footing material so the PSD is more desirable. Natural or syn-
thetic fibers or additives can bind larger particulates to the smaller fractions in the soil. You
can increase moisture and reduce evaporation by watering frequently, possibly with the aid
of an absorbing agent. Adding organic matter to footing not only increases moisture-hold-
ing capacity but also encourages microbes that bind the soil materials to flourish.
Too deep.
Footing that is too deep can cause missteps, tendon strain, and other injuries.
Most footing that is too deep can be remedied somewhat by watering it regularly. If ne-
cessary, some of the existing footing can be hauled away, and/or stone dust or clay can be
added to the footing to firm it up. Stone dust may be most appropriate to add to sawdust or
wood footings that are too deep, and clay for deep sand. Bonding agents (fibers and poly-
mers) can also be useful additives to help this problem.
Too wet, muddy, or slippery.
This problem can be caused by anything from poor plan-
ning and design of an arena to an insufficient base or inappropriate footing. Working wet
surfaces with a harrow usually speeds up the drying process. Because wet footing often
points to poor arena design, there are no patches for this problem. It's usually back to the
drawing board.
Freezes easily.
In cold climates, footing can freeze into a lumpy mass or a hard surface.
Adding salt or a special product to prevent soil freezing and then working it in might be the
only way to keep an arena usable in very cold weather. Be aware that salt can be damaging
to your horse's hooves and your tack, tractor, and equipment, not to mention the environ-
ment.
Inconsistent.
Inconsistent footing has varying depth and feel. Some arenas are consistent
on the rail but vary greatly in the center. Unevenness is often a symptom of a faulty base.
This type of problem will likely require renovation.
Footing Additives
Once the footing is in place, you may need to add products to it from time to time to solve
certain problems. Some of the footing amendments that follow are good; others are bad.
Manure, bedding, and compost.
Adding fresh manure to arenas usually results in a slick
footing that takes a long time to dry. Fresh manure is unsanitary, breeds flies, and harbors
parasites. Uncomposted manure and used bedding release ammonia fumes that can lead to
respiratory problems in horses. Shavings and straw are slippery and inconsistent, and make
the arena hard to maintain; don't add either to footing. Horse manure with or without bed-
ding that has been thoroughly composted into humus has been successfully used as an arena
footing additive when combined with native soil, sand, and wood footing products. If used
