Textile fibers
Cost: $0.15-$0.25 per square foot
Using fabric fibers in arenas is a European import, which is often generically referred to as "Eurofelt." These bits of fiber, which are mostly synthetics such as polyester or blends, absorb water and help maintain moisture content when mixed with sand.
Most textile fibers added to arenas are made from recycled materials. Some are pre-consumer, meaning they're made of materials leftover from manufacturing other products. Post-consumer materials are made from materials that have made their way out into the world as a different product. Gregory recommends going with the pre-consumer fibers to ensure the health and safety of you, your animals, and your investment.
"Think of the difference between fibers made out of leftover carpet from a factory and those from a carpet pulled out of a home," he says. "You don't know what the carpet out of the house has been exposed to."
Other Options
Maybe water doesn't work for you. You either have limited access to water, you have an indoor arena that isn't conducive to watering, or you want to keep dust down in the winter. There are some additional dust-control solutions for you, too.
Rubber
Cost: $2.50 per square foot (or more)
Shredded or crumb rubber is usually derived from car tires or other rubber products, such as the soles of tennis shoes. The bounce of rubber adds a nice spring to a footing, although its added traction isn't ideal for horses that are sliding or spinning.
Rubber, when mixed with sand, makes a footing more porous, which allows water to saturate the footing. But, for the same reason, it also causes water to evaporate more quickly. So, in the case of dust prevention, water and rubber don't mix, says Gregory. However, rubber footing does reduce the amount of hoof concussion on sand, meaning it breaks down more slowly and is less likely to become dust in the long term.
Applications
Cost: $0.50 per square foot or more
Arena applications come in two types, those that aggregate the footing and those that coat the individual grains of footing. These are made of a variety of compounds, including tree-based, plant-based and petroleum oils. Depending on the product, you can either self-apply, or have a professional application.
Aggregate applications bind individual pieces of footing, making the whole heavier than its parts. Treatments that coat individual grains of sand or pieces of footing make each piece heavier. Both either reduce or eliminate watering, although they do break down over time. Some water-solvent products should not be watered or used outside.
The market is flooded with different application products, so make sure to ask your supplier about the environmental and health-related risks of the arena treatment.
Wax-coated sand
Cost: $5-$6 per square foot
Wax-coated sand is exactly what it sounds like. Individual grains of washed sand are coated, and thus weighted, with wax. This is a custom-installed footing and doesn't require additional water. Gregory warns, however, that the wax isn't ideal for hot climates, such as those in southern California, Arizona or the southern states.
Polymer-coated sand
Cost: $5-$7 per square foot
This high-end footing feels like riding or walking in a pillow of squishy beads. Which makes sense, because each individual grain of sand is coated with a plastic polymer product. The coating is laminated on to the sand using a heat process, which makes it permanent. "It's like the process used to make your driver's license," Gregory relates. The extra weight keeps sand grounded and your arena dust free.
Final Notes
Gregory equates mixing arena footing to baking a cake-too much of the wrong ingredient and you'll ruin the whole thing. Measure it correctly and you'll have the perfect recipe for dust-free footing. Invest some time, do your research, and work within your budget. No matter how you suppress dust in your arena, you and your horse will be happier and healthier during and after your ride.
