The condition of equestrian arenas in the UK and Eire in 2016

Abstract

This study aimed to establish the current condition of existing equestrian arenas in the UK and Eire. The objectives were to: (1) describe the arenas of the UK and Eire, (2) report upon maintenance procedures used, (3) establish commonly occurring issues with regards to arenas and surfaces, and (4) outline how equestrians feel these issues should be addressed. An online questionnaire was created using the web-based program Survey Monkey. The survey was marketed at equestrian arena owners, maintainers, and regular users, and was available between 23rd September 2015 and 6th January 2016. Distribution was via social media and online forums.

Three hundred and seventy-four individuals began the questionnaire. Questionnaires were eliminated if the end of page one had not been reached (n=6), or if the arena was located outside of the British Isles (n=5). This resulted in a total of 363 usable questionnaires, of which 186 were completed in their entirety. In order to gain as much information as possible, incomplete surveys were included in analysis up until the point the respondent left the survey.

The majority of equestrian arenas in the UK and Eire in 2016 were situated outdoors and had a limestone base covered by a sand-based surface. Sand and rubber was the most popular surface constituent combination. Arenas tended to be harrowed and/or graded either weekly or monthly. Problems with the surface had arisen following maintenance in half of arenas surveyed, and there was considerable variation in the experience of those performing maintenance, the number and type of maintenance patterns used, and in the length of maintenance sessions.

It is essential that effective maintenance protocols are established and disseminated throughout the equestrian community in order to reduce the likelihood of injury caused by uneven surfaces. Poor drainage and a lack of uniformity were also common issue with UK surfaces, although maintenance was generally successful in correcting uniformity. Deep, boggy and uneven surfaces are risk factors for injury and lameness. Future study should focus on how the most popular surface types respond to changes in drainage and maintenance, in order to reduce the risks to the equestrian population countrywide.