February 2024 Newsletter
About Attwood
Nick Attwood started Equestrian Surfaces in 1992. In the following 32 years, he has actively worked to create safer and more dynamic footing for English style disciplines. Along his journey, he took note of the FEI white paper written in 2014 based on the interaction between the horse and the surface. In this white paper, five parameters for equestrian surfaces were identified: Impact Firmness, Cushioning, Responsiveness, Grip and Uniformity.
Each surface Attwood installs is custom blended to suit the discipline and needs of the horse and rider. This process includes selecting from a wide range of sand options and raw material additives. Attwood draws from years of experience to know which ingredients to choose, where to find them, and how to mix them in order to achieve the optimum consistency with regard to firmness, cushioning, rebound and grip and consistency.
In this current decade, Attwood has installed arenas for the highest level of performance. These arenas were installed with footing that was tested at 5 intervals during the process.
These five stages were sand selection, footing formulation, mixing of the footing for consistency, installed footing, and rider tested. From sand choice to riding on it, Attwood’s selections and formulations are consistent and predictable.
Nick Attwood is the leader in equine footing for safety, performance and innovation. Lab-Engineered – Lab-Tested – Guaranteed Performance Outcome.
FEI White Paper
Learn More About Us In The Hunt Country Scout Guide
Lab Engineered Competition Arenas / Maryland 5 Star – EuroTex – Fair Hill, MD
Project Highlight
Stable View’s Seventh Attwood Arena
Stable View is a preeminent International Equestrian Training Center located in Aiken, SC. Stable View works with local and international experts to make every facet of their facility speak to their goal of being the best of the best. Stable View is a “gathering place” for equestrians and all to come gather to compete, stay, relax, celebrate and enjoy.
We are proud to partner with Stable View as they expand their facility to include a seventh Attwood arena. This impressive 300’ x 184’ outdoor jumping arena will have an Attwood vertical draining base with EuroTex sand blend footing.
“Barry called me in November and we broke ground in early January. This new arena was planned to meet the needs of Jumpers with the dimensions being very important for upper-level riders. Abiding by the rules and regulations of the FEI, this oval arena was planned to fit two full size dressage arenas plus 5 meters around each perimeter”, said Nick Attwood.
“I am always excited to hear Barry’s plans for Stable View! His vision and commitment to be recognized as a premier equestrian center is definitely coming to fruition, and quickly. Stable View has expanded and is a true ‘gathering place’ for everyone, equestrian or not. But at the same time, equestrians know they will get the best experience, the best facility and the best footing”. Attwood added, “And, Barry and I have a symbiotic relationship because we both think in meters and cheer for the same football (soccer) team!”
Stable View – A Gathering Place
Attwood Arenas at Stable View
2011 – Covered Arena – Pinnacle Footing – 200’ x 250’
2014 – Outdoor Capt. Mark Phillips Arena – EuroTex Footing – 300’ x 250’
2015 – Outdoor Silva Dressage Arena – EuroTex – 220’ x 120’
2018 – Outdoor Hunter Arena – EuroTex – 150’ x 200’
2020 – Outdoor ‘Tree’ Arena – EuroTex – 345’ x 230’
2021 – Outdoor Joannah Glass Arena – EuroTex – 230’ x 120’
2024 – Outdoor Jumping Arena – EuroTex – 300’ x 184’
Capt. Mark Phillips Arena, Covered Arena, and Tree Arena at Stable View
Recently Completed
Blossom Creek Farm
From South Carolina to California, Attwood has footing!
Attwood also has installers! While we have footing ready by the ton for DIY, we also have knowledgeable and experienced installers who can do everything from the ground up. We can be your one stop arena shop so you don’t have to waste time or resources on managing multiple contractors.
Attwood installers work from the east coast to the west coast and everywhere in between, but it’s the footing they install that has to meet the requirements of the climate.
That is why Attwood formulates every arena footing for the specific location and discipline. No matter where you find us, we will be equipped to meet the needs of our customer….the horse!
One such installation recently completed was EuroTex footing in a covered arena for Ransome Rombauer in Napa Valley.
Completed EuroTex arena at Blossom Creek Farm
Footing Highlight: AlphaTex
…at The Jaeckle Centre
Dust Free & Requires No Water
For Indoor and Outdoor Arenas
Lab-Engineered – Lab-Tested – Guaranteed Performance Outcome
Sold by the ton for self-install, or Attwood installers can do it for you.
In keeping with the times, we created a more economic, dust free, non-watered footing for self-installation, and the result is AlphaTex.
AlphaTex is a coated sand blend which makes it dust free. The coating also takes away the need for water. Sand, felt and fiber make up this footing mixture, and no toxic chemicals or additives are included.
After many lab hours and batch testing, we realized that we had the footing we were looking for!
We then decided to partner with iEquitek to test the footing and realized what a unique product we really have! We are confident about this footing because we know it meets the highest standards for safety and performance.
Our first AlphaTex installation was in 2023 at The Jaeckle Centre in Thompson Station, TN. Working with iEquitek, we tested the process at 5 different stages: sand selection, footing formulation, mixing of the footing for consistency, installed footing, and rider tested.
By working together, Attwood was able to guarantee through the testing methods of iEquitek, that the footing met the standards of The Jaeckle Centre.
From iEquiTek:
“The Jaeckle Centre indoor arena’s riding surface is scientifically designed for Safety, Health, and Performance diversity. The arena is unlike any other around the Globe, being designed with a Therapeutic Area, a High-Performance Training Area and an engineered Jump Chute.
The surface architecture was designed by iEquiTek. All the components were extensively tested in the iEquiTek laboratory. The footing was provided by Attwood Equestrian, lab engineered and tested in partnership with iEquiTek. This lab-based design process tested and evaluated 9 different footing formulations from multiple companies. This is the first use of this footing in the United States. The specific parameters of the surfaces were optimized for low impact and low stress on soft tissue, particularly in rehabilitation protocols, as well as high performance exercise.
As part of the new Jaeckle Centre riding surfaces, the rehabilitation clinic now has several engineered “evaluation paths”. These are designed with specific characteristics for clinician evaluation of horses as part of the rehabilitation protocols. They include the hard evaluation path and the compliant evaluation path. Each of these is modeled after the work iEquiTek has done jointly with the Spy Coast Farm Rehabilitation and Conditioning Clinic in Lexington, KY.
The arena is maintained with protocols specific to its purpose and usage. It is routinely tested by iEquiTek and adjusted to spec by Attwood Equestrian, so it remains compliant with its performance standard.”
Check out this feedback from Pam at Piccolo Cavallo Stables who recently had AlphaTex installed at her facility:
Attwood Q & A
What are the maintenance requirements of AlphaTex?
AlphaTex is an extremely low maintenance footing requiring minimal effort. This arena surface requires zero watering and doesn’t produce any dust. Manure should be picked out to keep it dust-free. It only needs to be harrowed every 10 to 20 horse hours, meaning if you only ride one horse a day on it, you only need to harrow it about twice a month.
A harrow specifically made for textile surfaces should be used to keep the integrity of the footing. We prefer the drags from Carolina Arena Equipment. We use the DragNFly harrows to maintain all of our installations.
We recommend having the footing laser graded every 12-18 months, depending on use. We also recommend you “flip” your footing every 5 to 7 years. Attwood can do both of these maintenance routines and can advise with regard to use and number of horses as to when these maintenance routines would be most advantageous. Most importantly, harrowing regularly will keep your surface mixed well and even.
Overall, this surface is one of the lowest maintenance horse arena footing options on the market!
Learn More About DragNfly Harrows
Product Highlight
Curved Kick Walls
Have you ever banged your leg on the arena fence or kick board while riding? It’s the worst! Good news though…our curved kick walls prevent this from happening.
The curve helps keep your leg safe while still allowing you to work close to the wall. No more bruised ankles while keeping that inside bend!
The panels keep your leg a safe distance from the wall while the bump-out gives ample space for a drag to fit under it, allowing you to maintain your arena footing along the track more easily.
Our curved kick walls offer a luxurious, modern upgrade to indoor or covered arenas and are completely customizable to your liking. Safety and maintenance have never been so beautiful!
Use Our Kick Wall Cost Calculator
Upcoming Events at Attwood Sponsored Venues
Stable View Calendar
Morven Park Calendar
VA Horse Center Calendar
Attwood Equestrian footings are lab engineered, lab tested and have a guaranteed performance outcome. Footing for English disciplines.