Pamper Your Horse with Rubber Mulch
Like women, whose feet hurt after hours spent walking on high heels, horses’ feet also bear a lot of stress when training for competitions. In fact, inappropriate footing can cause a horse to develop various bone disorders and joint problems.
That is why it is important to provide proper footing for horses. If you are a horse lover, this would mean giving your horses the best quality of care available. But if you are an equestrian, this could spell the difference between victory and defeat.
Figure out the best footing for your horse
On deciding which footing would best benefit your horse, 2 things must be considered: the type of surface on which the horse undergoes training, and impact resistance.
Basically, a good horse arena footing requires a firm, leveled base that gives your horse a solid platform. The base holds the top layer that cushions and absorbs the footfalls of the horse. This becomes especially important when the hoof of the horse moves in a downward direction, as it is this motion that gives the horse utmost discomfort. The material used as footing must also be able to withstand even the toughest of weather conditions.
Bad materials for footing
Never use concrete as footing for horse arenas. This is because concrete does not absorb impact energy. It will be terribly difficult for the horse to run on it. Sand is also an unsuitable material to use as footing. It is difficult for the horse to move in sand. Because of this, horses tend to move slowly and easily get tired.
Rubber mulch is good material for footing
Rubber mulch provides an excellent surface for horses. It is capable of absorbing impact and is known to reduce the stress on the horses’ joints and bones. Rubber mulch is the best material there is to create topnotch arena footing for horses.