Rubber additives vary in cost depending on the particular kind you buy and how far it has to ship. At a pound per square foot, it will cost about 15 to 20 cents for each square foot in your arena. So, for example, adding a pound per square foot to a small dressage arena is likely to cost somewhere between $1,300 and $1,740; a large dressage arena (66 feet by 198 feet) would run from about $1,950 to $2,600.
What If They Eat It?
If your horse is turned out in (or has access to) an arena that includes a rubber additive, you may be concerned about the harm it could do if he decides to snack on it. Rubber additive vendors have apparently fielded this question many times - enough to include it in the "FAQ" pages of their Web sites, anyway. For instance, the RubberRecycle site says, "Surefoot is non-toxic (and in the case of colored surfacing chips, only non-toxic paints are used). The chips have no taste appeal, but if they should be accidentally swallowed, test reports show that the chips will simply pass through the digestive tract of both humans and animals." The Perma-Flex FAQ says, "From what we've heard from our customers, even the horse that will typically 'eat anything and everything in sight' will - at the most - pick up a piece and spit it back out."
Fiber additives have been popular in Europe for some time and are now catching on in the United States. Fibers may consist of natural materials, such as burlap or cotton, or synthetic materials, such as nylon and polypropylene. The idea behind adding fibers is to simulate the feel of a good grass surface. The fibers interweave and knit the footing together, which produces a consistent surface.
Like rubber, fiber shouldn't be used by itself. It's generally recommended for use as an additive at a rate of about a pound per square foot, with no more than two pounds per square foot. A wide assortment of fiber products are on the market. Among the more prominent are EuroTrack, EuroFelt and Fibresand.
As a general rule, you can expect to pay between 15 and 50 cents a square foot for fiber additives, with the natural materials being cheapest and the nylon or polypropylene costing the most.
A number of commercial additives have been developed that combine rubber and fibers. Examples include SandMate and SandTies, both of which mix rubber and fiber to add stability to loose sand and retain moisture.
A Word About Dust
Our focus here has been on the characteristics of footing materials and additives, so we haven't touched on the bonding/absorbing agents that are available to help combat problems with dust. In fact, that's a huge topic, which we'll examine in detail in a future article. But it's still a good idea to be aware of some of your dust-fighting options.
Water. Most arena experts cite water as the best all-purpose dust suppressant. However, to be effective, water must be applied correctly. In general, you want your footing to hold a moisture content of 8% to 12% through the top two or three inches (or as far into the footing as your horse's hooves penetrate). This will typically be the depth you drag the footing. You can determine the moisture percentage using a moisture meter, an inexpensive tool available at garden supply stores. To cut down on evaporation, it's advisable to water at night. (This also gives the water a chance to soak in well while the arena's not in use.) Frequent light watering is recommended over one big drenching, and it's important to make sure the water is well-distributed so you don't wind up with slick spots and puddles.
Organic soil conditioners. Applying an organic soil conditioner such as Dust Down may help your dust control efforts. Applied when you water, Dust Down encourages the growth of microbes that slow the evaporation of water, hold particles together and keep dust at ground level. Enzyme-based DustLoc is a soil-conditioning product that also increases moisture retention.
Oils. Environmentally safe oils (as opposed to used motor oil), which include food-grade coconut oil, peanut oil, glycerin and lanolin, represent another dust-suppressing solution. One product, ArenaPro, is derived from soybean oil. As a rule, oil tends to be expensive and requires reapplication every two or three years.
Synthetic agents. Products in the synthetics category include Arena Moist, an acrylic copolymer that absorbs and releases moisture, and Arena RX, a synthetic fluid that coats footing particles. PH*
