Innovative solutions and the most common mistakes made in riding centers.

The President of the Equestrian Sports Club Melloni Horses – Grzegorz Mieleńczuk, commented in Horse & Business Magazine (issue 3/2021) on innovative solutions and the most common mistakes made in riding centers: “It is a fact that equestrianism is a very demanding sport for both the rider and the horse. However, the horse must be treated on par with the rider when it comes to working comfort. It is an athlete just like the rider. Therefore, the best possible conditions must be created for it in the stable […]”

Does the surface affect the horse and the rider?

A very important element of stud farms is properly prepared ground, on which training can take place regardless of weather conditions. During conversations with owners and users of stud farms, the most frequently mentioned problems were hard ground, the formation of mud, and consequently, slippery surfaces. It is also important to avoid situations where water stands on the ground. Such conditions pose a risk of injury and can stress the horse – “A stressed horse exhibits irregular and short movement, and its entire body is tense.” Difficult conditions can also cause anxiety in the rider. “So why do we allow our arenas to have horses working on surfaces that damage their legs? Why do many people gallop happily on deep sand or soft ground? It’s hard to answer because I have no idea why so many people do not respect the health of their horses.” The impact of the surface on horse training has been thoroughly described by the portal www.alfahorse.pl, which we wholeheartedly recommend.

What surface-related problems do users of the forum re-volta.pl?

The riding area I use is grassy-clay. In summer, it’s hard, in winter it’s muddy and slippery, or if it freezes, it becomes clumpy.
Our arena, 9 years ago, used to grow grain, and the soil is poor, clay-based. The riding surface is also poor, not very permeable, and extremely slippery. A little rain, and it’s a disaster.
I also have terrible ground, heavy, non-permeable third-class soil. In summer, it’s terribly hard, in autumn and spring – mud and extremely slippery, in winter – clumpy.
Mine is similar, a heavy clay-loamy soil. At the end of summer, we leveled a 30x70m area, compacted it with a roller, and dug a trench around it, about 80cm deep. We brought 3 trucks with 28 tons of sand. It turns out that it was too little, and it’s still very slippery.
I also have earthy ground. In spring and autumn, it’s worked with a harrow, but it only worked for about 2 weeks with moist soil. When it gets dry, it becomes terribly hard. Last year, I brought in sawdust and mixed it lightly with the soil. The surface is slightly better because it doesn’t compact as much, but there are more uneven spots, and it often needs leveling.
The lunge area became terribly muddy, but there’s no way to fix it (fence).
My problem is the terribly dusty surface in the lunge area, and I’m looking for a cheap solution to cover it with something.
Where the riding arena is supposed to be, the soil is pretty hard, but when it rains, it turns into very slippery mud, while the area for the dressage ring is softer, but the mud there is awful. Do you have any ideas for good and inexpensive surfacing?

How to deal with mud in the stable? A remedy for surface issues.

Stella Padd is an innovative and practical system for stabilizing equestrian surfaces. It is particularly used in round pens, riding arenas, and horse stalls. The grid structure, resembling a honeycomb, is very sturdy and easily withstands the pressure of a horseshoe. The cells in the grid are designed to prevent the filling material from migrating into the ground, ensuring that the individual layers of the surface do not mix. Stella Padd is primarily focused on safety for horses, ease of use, and an attractive price. Its simple installation, which does not require specialized knowledge, makes it increasingly popular among stud farms. Stella Padd grids do not suffer from “keyboard” failure during use, meaning they do not detach or shift relative to each other, and, most importantly, they are safe for horses. They can be filled with any granular material, ensuring complete drainage. Additionally, the area with the grid maintains a level surface at all times.

The material used to produce the STELLA PADD grids for paddocks comes from the highest quality selected post-recycling raw material. The paddock stabilization system is safe for both the environment and users. Depending on the size of the area, appropriate equipment should be used, and the required amount of material should be prepared. Currently, there are many manufacturers on the market offering similar solutions. However, it is important to consider elements that will optimally meet the expectations and requirements of users.