Equine Footing
Paddock Slabs solve your footing challenges by providing outstanding support for both your animals and the footing material itself. Additionally, Paddock Slabs act as a barrier, separating your footing material layer from the foundation materials below. This ensures that your valuable footing materials are not prematurely contaminated with gravel and dirt.
The perforated Paddock Slab also allows for excellent drainage to ensure that your footing materials do not become waterlogged. And because Paddock Slab supports the vehicles, people, and animals that traverse it, the foundation materials will remain uncompressed and porous allowing for continued superior drainage.
Making a good footing foundation
A good base foundation will provide firm support and effective drainage. The depth of this base depends on what the arena will be used for and how much water the facility may need to absorb. the base should be graded so that water will not pool.
Firmness: While dressage events are good with a base of 4 to 6 inches in depth, jumping events need a deeper 12” base to provide a firm surface for the horses to generate power.
Drainage: Each of the three base layers, Paddock Slab, Stone Chips, and Gravel, are designed to provide both a firm consistent footing foundation and a porous substrate capable of shedding water from the arena. Recommend the use of 1 to 2” of sub-angular particles for the leveling layer as a good balance between stability and porosity.
Level: While the arena should have a slight grade of 1 to 2% to ensure proper drainage, it is important that the foundation is smooth and on the same plane.
If installed correctly the horse and rider can expect to enjoy consistent quality footing anywhere in the arena. This will result in increased confidence and performance while maintaining equine soundness.