| Just as you wouldn't put down a dirt floor in your | | | | to wood dust. |
| bathroom, there are certain issues you should think | | | | Recycled rubber pieces or "shredded rubber" is also a |
| through when deciding what type of footing to use in | | | | good choice. Rubber helps break down the any natural |
| your round pen. Too often we don't give this enough | | | | hardness, as well as provide for greater soil water |
| thought, or tend to go with the cheapest option, only to | | | | absorption. Rubber does have its drawbacks, as it can |
| have to redo it or pay for our choice many times over | | | | float away during a heavy downpour or blow away |
| in the future. Remember, your round pen footing is the | | | | during high winds. |
| cushion layer. It will absorb shock and help protect your | | | | The best choice is usually a combination of materials. |
| horse from injury. | | | | Many times you will need a coarse layer to help with |
| The cheapest and easiest is natural grass or dirt. | | | | water runoff and breakdown, a finer layer for drainage |
| Though it has the advantage of being a natural footing, | | | | and compaction (preventing your cushion layer from |
| it also comes with many drawbacks. Grass can easily | | | | filtering into the ground), and a cushion layer to help |
| be damaged and end up with bare and packed spots, | | | | provide natural footing and reduce the hardness of the |
| especially under heavy use. Dirt will compact with use | | | | ground. |
| and can create a hard, "concrete-like" top layer that | | | | A three-layer system consisting of coarse rock, fine |
| may cause injury to your horse's legs. Neither of these | | | | rock and a combination of shredded rubber and sand |
| two surfaces is suitable for rainy climates or use | | | | is one such system seen often. Each layer brings its |
| during or after a rainfall. | | | | own properties, and you are assured of excellent |
| Sand is a very good choice for your round pen footing. | | | | drainage for year-round use. |
| It provides a great cushion and well drained, it can be | | | | Before starting on your round pen footing it is best to |
| used in wet climates. | | | | plan ahead. What will the round pen be used for? |
| Another option is wood shavings and other wood | | | | What is the climate in your particular area? How hard |
| products. Wood adds organic materials to your footing | | | | or soft is your natural ground? |
| which helps maintain its springiness. The drawback to | | | | Remember, the physical round pen structure is only |
| wood is that if it gets too much moisture (either | | | | part of the equation. Proper footing and drainage are |
| through rain or improper runoff) it can become slick | | | | as important as the actual round pen itself. Failure to |
| and break down quickly through rot. On the flip side, if | | | | plan for proper footing now can bring about injury to |
| the wood gets too dry it will also break down and turn | | | | your horse, as well as costly rebuilds later. |