As temperatures drop and the first rains soften the ground, it’s the perfect time to prepare your equestrian facility for the winter months. 
By taking proactive steps today, you’ll not only protect your arena surfaces but also maintain the performance and longevity of your entire property, from paddocks and pathways to turnout areas.

To keep your surfaces clean and mud-free, we recommend our mud-free HIT Paddock Mats, Mountain Trail Mats, or HIT Drain Grids, which are designed to provide reliable drainage and a stable footing year-round.

Explore our Mud-control Solutions

Maintaining an Outdoor Arena

In the outdoor riding arena, the key priority is to keep the surface sealed with a roller and well-drained to handle upcoming storms and allow water to run off efficiently.

Regularly remove fallen leaves and organic debris, as they promote decay, block drainage, and make the footing slippery. Proper maintenance with a performance arena drag is essential to keep the surface stable and safe for use.

Before any storm, use your proper arena conditioner/arena drag to prepare the arena by dragging it and then seal the arena surface with a roller so the rain water can shift off the arena surface. If you live in a region with heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, seal your outdoor arena before winter and allow the snow cover to remain throughout the season. Don’t forget to blow out all water pipes. Once the snow melts, rototill the arena footing to refresh and aerate the compacted arena sand/geotextile footing and check your irrigation lines.

Explore our Range of Arena Drags and Conditioners

If your budget allows, consider installing a HIT System or Ebb & Flow Arena System, which provides instant drainage and watering from below — a clear choice for optimal performance in all weather conditions.

Learn More About Subsurface Irrigation Systems

Explore Which Underground Watering System is Right for You

Riding in Winter Despite Freezing Temperatures: What Should You Watch Out For?

A riding arena can be made frost-resistant with magnesium chloride, allowing riding even during the winter months. Before doing so, it’s important to consult your arena builder to determine the correct amount and the best application method. The mixture can be incorporated using a suitable arena drag. Important note: Be sure to thoroughly clean the horses’ feet and your maintenance equipment after use, as magnesium chloride can damage the paint and galvanization of the arena conditioner over time, even with high-quality coatings.

A gentler and more sustainable alternative to keep you arena footing dust-free and prevents it from freezing is our HydroSandBinder. This 100% synthetic, clear, and odorless liquid coats and binds sand grains without causing stickiness. It’s safe for horses, riders, pets, and plants, and remains effective in all seasons. HydroSandBinder provides long-lasting dust control and a more stable footing, without the harsh effects of traditional salts.

Learn More About HydroSandBinder

Thank you for choosing innovative, sustainable solutions, we look forward to helping you create your best riding arena yet.

About Hilo Nick

Hilo is a lifelong equestrian, having competed in jumping and dressage in Germany as well as in the US. As a compassionate rider, Hilo understands the biomechanics of the horse and has deep-seated expertise and a gifted feel for sand—the most important aspect in any footing. Because of this, Hilo hand-picks the sand for all of her FootingSolutionsUSA clients. “I LOVE sand,” she says. “You have to have the right feeling for good sand and combine it with the technical and engineering aspects. I never stop searching for even better sand blends and geotextile additives to provide friendly footing for the horses.”Hilo founded FootingSolutionsUSA in 2004 to fill a void in quality riding surfaces in the US, which at the time were behind in comparison to European riding arenas.

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