EQ 101 -All About the Base
Arena Layers
Qualities of a Good Equestrian Base
Subgrade (Native Soil)
(The natural ground under the arena.)
Needs to be properly compacted and graded.
Weak soils may require geotextile fabric to stabilize.
Sub-base Layer
Often made of compacted stone, gravel, or crushed rock.
Provides drainage and prevents the footing from mixing into the soil.
Typical thickness: 4–8 inches, depend
Subgrade (Native Soil)
(The natural ground under the arena.)
Needs to be properly compacted and graded.
Weak soils may require geotextile fabric to stabilize.
Sub-base Layer
Often made of compacted stone, gravel, or crushed rock.
Provides drainage and prevents the footing from mixing into the soil.
Typical thickness: 4–8 inches, depending on soil type and arena use.
Base Layer
Crushed stone (e.g., limestone screenings, decomposed granite).
Provides a firm, level platform for the footing to sit on.
Usually 2–4 inches thick, laser-leveled and compacted.
Footing (Top Layer)
Sand, rubber, fiber, or blended footing materials designed for traction and cushion.
Depth depends on discipline (e.g., 2–3 inches for dressage, 3–4 inches for jumping).
Qualities of a Good Equestrian Base
Qualities of a Good Equestrian Base
Drainage – water should move away from the surface to prevent pooling.
Stability – firm enough to prevent shifting under horses’ hooves.
Separation – keeps footing material from mixing with the base and subgrade.
Longevity – designed to withstand years of use without major reconstruction.
Common Base Materials
Common Base Materials
Crushed Limestone – affordable, compacts well, strong drainage.
Decomposed Granite – excellent compaction, stable, long-lasting.
Stone Dust / Quarry Fines – smooth finish, compacts tightly, sometimes used as top of the base layer.
Geotextile Fabric (optional) – placed between soil and base to prevent mixing and erosion.
How to fix bad footing
Amending Existing Arena Footing - There is a Science to Sand Gradations
1. If Footing is Too Coarse (large, sharp, unstable)
Problems: Horses may slip, footing doesn’t compact well, uncomfortable for dressage or flatwork.
Solutions:
- Blend with Finer Sand: Add a finer, sub-angular sand to fill the gaps between coarse particles and create better compaction.
- Add Fibers: Textile or synthetic fibers help bind coarse sand, improving stability and cushion.
- Add Rubber Crumb: Helps soften the impact of coarse footing and improve resilience.
- Water & Compact: Proper moisture plus rolling can help bind coarse material together.
2. If Footing is Too Fine (dusty, compacting, deep or unstable)
Problems: Dust, respiratory irritation, “deep” footing that strains tendons, poor drainage.
Solutions:
- Blend with Coarser Sand: Mix in sub-angular sand with slightly larger particle size to improve drainage and reduce dust.
- Add Textile or Geotextile Fibers: Fibers interlock with fine sand, preventing it from compacting too tightly and adding structure.
- Add Organic Additives (e.g., wax-coated fibers, shredded felt, or fiber blends): Improves moisture retention and reduces dust.
- Dust Control Agents: Magnesium chloride or other dust suppressants can temporarily help with ultra-fine footing.
3. General Arena Footing Amendment Tips
- Always test in a small section first before amending the whole arena.
- Blend thoroughly — just dumping new material on top won’t work; drag and mix evenly.
- Depth adjustment — sometimes the issue is simply too much or too little depth. Remove excess or top-dress accordingly.
- Moisture management — water is one of the biggest factors in footing performance. Install irrigation if possible.
- Hire a footing specialist for large adjustments — they can do a particle size analysis and recommend the right amendment.
Rule of Thumb:
- Too coarse → add fines/fibers to tighten
- Too fine → add coarser particles/fibers to stabilize
Let us take the Guesswork out of Amending your Footing. There are many different types of sand available and they are NOT created equally. We will source the right products. If you have a footing in place we can explore the ability to amend your current sand and protect your investment. (Please note not all sands can be amended due to the grain sizing).
