Did you know that Kiser Arenas offers footing consultation and management services? Whether you’re building an arena from scratch and want the best or own a facility that frequently holds competitions, Kiser is proud to offer both consultation and management services — or a blend of the two custom-tailored to your facilities’ needs.
Kiser has been a leading name in competition footing management since 1988. The significant difference Kiser made in the NRHA footing over the years caught the attention of other major associations and events.
Today, Kiser Arena Specialists continues to raise the bar and set the standard for footing consultations, competition footing management, and managing more world championship events than any other company.
What does horse arena footing consultation include?
A Kiser horse arena consultation consists of an initial phone meeting with one of our trained experts to help better understand what you’re looking to gain from a new or existing arena. We’ll ask questions like the primary discipline, how often the arena is worked, what type of footing is there, and your primary concerns.
From there, we can outline a plan of action for you to apply yourself or provide a quote for Kiser Ranch services.
Contact us to get started with a consultation today.
How much does it cost to put footing in a horse arena?
During your consultation with our trained experts, we will begin to work with you to research local, quality footing options for your riding discipline. Many times, this means contacting local gravel quarries.
The cost of footing for a horse arena varies greatly. Ingredient availability, including trucking costs, may greatly impact the final costs of the footing of a horse arena. The quality of each footing option may also be very important.
Our experts have worked across the country on arenas and have evaluated footing options at length. If there are any questions about the quality of footing options, our team can test products at our headquarters to ensure your footing will perform as intended. High-quality footing will save thousands of dollars in repairs and upkeep over the intended usage years.
How deep should arena footing be for horses?
Footing depth will vary across riding disciplines. And while there are no universal recommendations, our trained experts can guide you to the best horse arena footing depth for your preferred disciplines.
Creating optimum footing depth in your riding arena requires evaluating how the three primary footing components will work together to support your horse. Those three components include the base, the subsurface, and the top dressing. To learn more about each of these components, visit our article on Riding Arena Footing.
What is the best footing for horse arenas?
The best footing for horse arenas depends on a variety of factors.
Our horse arena footing products are primarily natural, including sand, silt, and clay. We also use high-quality geotextile fiber (usually in combination with sand) for elite performance applications, such as dressage, hunters, and jumpers.
For both natural and blended footing, there is a base layer that must have the properties to become solid and stay consistent. The base is the foundation for safe, successful footing. Base materials range from clay to stone dust materials to mat systems similar to those you see under turf for erosion control. To learn more about base materials, check out our blog post How To Select the Best Base Material for Your Arena.
Why are arena consultations and management services important?
A good arena with quality footing is just another important tool in the toolbox for a horse and ride just as much as a good farrier, a good veterinarian team, or a good nutrition program is.
Whether you are a boarding facility that hosts competitions, a private training facility, or own a “hobby” farm that you use for relaxing and enjoying your equine partners, the quality arena footing will be a determining factor in the success of your equine program.
Most contractors have very little experience in creating horse arena footing that works functionally and also contributes to your horses’ health and performance. You need a footing blend that is custom to your specific needs.
Even when a contractor has the right materials, quite often, the drainage and base material installation is done improperly, resulting in footing that looks good but functions poorly, drains poorly, and may even be unsafe for horses and riders.
When interviewing contractors, make sure to ask for references and past projects. Don’t be afraid to “dig” a little before you invest! Here is a link to an article that features a list of questions to ask your builder when building a horse arena.
What types of footing has Kiser A managed?
Kiser professionals have managed the arena footing for the National Reined Cowhorse Association (NRCHA) and National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurities, and American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championships for well over 20 years. Kiser was even selected to provide the footing and equipment for 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2018 reining events at the World Equestrian Games.
Fun fact: Over $100 million dollars in prize money has been awarded on footing prepared by Kiser Arenas and their equipment.
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