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Becky Hayden is Sales Manager at equestrian surface specialists, Equestrian Direct LTD. Established over 30 years, Warwickshire-based, market leader Equestrian Direct is at the forefront of new and cost-effective horse-riding arenas and equestrian surfaces. Having been with the company for 15 years, there isn’t much that Becky doesn’t know about building and maintaining equestrian arenas…

After a long, glorious summer, the cold, dark and wet British winter can come as a bit of a shock. Reduced daylight hours and waterlogged fields mean riding in an arena may be the only option for most of us for at least the next couple of months. Variety is key to keeping a horse…

For new surfaces, Equestrian Direct’s Flexriride is the ultimate all-in-one solution. Flexiride can be laid directly onto a simple stone drainage layer, eliminating the need for expensive groundwork drainage and membrane installations. There is also no need for any sand; an advantage over traditional surfaces which require tonnes of sand to be laid for the…

Is it important to adapt your surface to your major discipline? Equestrian Direct’s two bestselling surfaces, TurfFloat and Flexiride are suitable for most equestrian disciplines, as well as indoor and outdoor arenas as well as gallops. TurfFloat provides secure footing allowing horses travel across the top of the surface and not through it, making it…

Surfaces and Injuries Horses are at greater risk of injury due to increasing work level and intensity, poor footing, and lack of fitness A high- quality, well maintained arena surface will provide good footing with a consistent surface that is neither too deep nor too thin is crucial to injury prevention. Bad footing, such as…

One downside of the warmer months is deep and dusty arena surfaces, which can damage horses’ joints, soft tissue, muscles, hooves, and the respiratory and vascular system. A temporary solution is to level and water the arena, replacing the moisture which has been lost. Surface top-ups are a quick and cost-effective long-term solution. A multi-purpose…

Whether a private yard, busy livery yard or competition venue, we are using our arenas more than ever, expecting the surface to suit a range of different disciplines and be ready to use whatever the weather. A winter spent avoiding soggy, waterlogged and frozen arenas, can soon be replaced with dry, deep and dusty surfaces…

The sun is shining, and we are spending as much time outside with our horses as possible. Our evenings and weekend are a balance between embracing time spent outside the arena as well as keeping up the hard work inside it. After the longest, wettest winter in years, it’s no surprise that your surface might…

Whether a private ménage, busy livery yard or competition venue, the demands on arena surfaces have increased. Arenas are being used more than ever; riders expect the surface to suit a range of disciplines and be fit for use whatever the weather. A surface that isn’t performing, is at best, annoying and disruptive, and at…

After the longest, wettest winter in years, the sun has finally decided to shine. The long, chilled out hacks and exhilarating gallops across grassy fields, which seemed out of reach just weeks ago, now fill our evenings and weekends. The spring and summer months are a balance between embracing time spent outside the arena as…