Icon Sporthorses recently made a significant capital investment in the health and care of its’ horses: a top-to-bottom renovation of the indoor, outdoor, and hot-walker riding surfaces and base materials. Working with arena design/builder Brian McNeil of E=MC Equestrian Arenas of Florida, Icon Sporthorses set forth an ambitious set of goals:

• Assessment of existing conditions: arena-base integrity/stability, footing conditions and appropriateness, dust control and moisture, maintenance practices and procedures. E=MC was retained to perform a comprehensive on-site review of conditions and prepared a detailed Scope of Work and Specifications, which served as Icon’s roadmap for prioritizing the improvements’ program.
• After reviewing the report submitted by E=MC and soliciting boarder/rider input, Icon went ahead with arena renovations, using some of the most advanced, and proven, materials and practices in the equestrian industry:Since the installation of this footing, our farrier is now able to reset aluminum shoes….something we’ve never been able to do before. If the shoes are no longer being pounded, ask yourself….how does this translate to the horses feet, hocks, stifles, etc???Since the installation of this footing, our farrier is now able to reset aluminum shoes….something we’ve never been able to do before. If the shoes are no longer being pounded, ask yourself….how does this translate to the horses feet, hocks, stifles, etc???
  1. with the assistance of local contractor, Chuck Finger (Finger Construction) all existing footings were removed and replaced with high-grade 99% pure silica sand, blended on-site with Europe’s most advanced strand-fiber footing amendment, Polywert’s GGT virgin strand-fiber. This material will be used at the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, and is considered by professionals to be one of the industry’s safest, highest-performance footing.
  2. while the indoor arena base was exposed, unstable base sections were re-graded and then permanently stabilized using liquid polymers manufactured by DirtGlue®Enterprises of Amesbury, Massachusetts. DirtGlue®is renowned world-wide for developing soil stabilizers and dust-control formulations.
  3. to minimize arena watering demands, prevent dust, and keep the arenas from freezing, Icon installed Arena Kleen liquid dust suppressant on all areas including the hot-walker, both arenas and the isle ways of the barn. By instituting a “no exceptions” manure-removal requirement applying to all riders, Icon has dramatically improved air quality while significantly reducing its daily reliance of watering to control dust. Manufactured by DirtGlue®Enterprises, “ArenaKleen” suppresses dust without altering the feel of the arena footing, and does it without corrosive salts – it is a completely safe, organic blend.
  4. Icon’s institutional maintenance practices and procedures were revamped to ensure that all of the new arena surfaces were maintained properly using the correct grooming tractors combined with the Parma Arena Groomer. This unique grooming implement is used by major show facilities throughout North America, ensuring a uniform and consistent density and depth for all riders, all gaits, all horses.
  5. by educating all trainers, boarders, employees and guests about the new maintenance guidelines, Icon has been able to get users excited about participating in the care of the new arenas – always emphasizing the overall commitment to horse-health.