GGT Footing superior to all other types of footing. It costs less to buy/ship/install/maintain because only a small volume is needed compared to rubber and other alternatives. Six times as much rubber would be needed as the GGT Footing. All with no toxic problems or instability or breakdown issues due to hazardous materials or UV light degradation.
Fiberglass is a known carcinogen and poses a potentially dangerous health risk. Footing with fiberglass synthetic fiber additive was used in Germany and Europe because of the cheaper cost. But, after a few years studies deemed this product unhealthy.
| Footing types |
Sand only |
Textile fibers only
|
Wood chips only |
Rubber/sand mixture
|
GGT-Footing /sand mixture |
Suitability for dressage |
Highly satisfactory |
Satisfactory – no high levels |
Satisfactory |
Satisfactory |
Highly satisfactory |
Suitability for hunter/jumper |
Satisfactory -
no high jumps |
No |
Satisfactory - only small jumps |
No – unstable / rolling |
Highly satisfactory |
Suitability for western disciplines |
Highly satisfactory |
No |
No |
No |
Satisfactory (cutting and pleasure) |
Source of components |
Naturally occuring |
Various synthetic shreds,
material mixes.
|
Typically softwood chips in various sizes and rarely cleaned.
Avoid treated wood, deciduous wood or hardwood.
| Usually from
scrap tire disposal,
contains among others toxic materials and heavy metals, which can be carcinogenic / allergy-releasing. |
PES = Polyester
Synthetic woven fiber
|
Longevity |
Sand breaks down and turns into dust over several years
(app. 6 years). |
Lasts for a long time, but does not always maintain its original properties,
Mechanical wear, often not UV resistant. |
Rots within 3- 4 years, slippery. |
Emits vapor – odor! |
Does not rot, rare mechanical wear.
Longevity with proper care and maintenance often more than 10 years!
UV-resistant! |
Riding characteristics |
Good traditional footing. |
New arena footing, not yet tested.
No show arenas! |
Traditional and functional footing, does not last long. |
Unstable, no shear resistance, inexpensive. |
Long-lasting and professional riding arena footing, tested and established in the international horse show business. |
Frost resistance |
Freezes |
Does not freeze. |
Freezes |
Mixed with sand resists freezing a little. |
Mixed with sand resists freezing a little, breaks loose more easily, low maintenance. |
Water retention |
Good drainage with suitable sand, dusty when it is dry! |
Variable. Depends on base material. Hard to moisten evenly. |
Becomes wet and heavy,
almost no drainage. |
Like sand, rubber does not retain water. |
Optimized by GGT-Footing, high water storage capacity. Longer intervals between watering. Riding arena is not as dusty! |
Effects on horses tendons and joints |
Good if footing is deep enough and sand appropiate to discipline. |
No shear resistance, high strain on tendons. |
Depending on wood chip size and depth of footing good to satisfactory. |
Footing to soft, causing tendons to strain and overstretch.
Poor traction. |
Footing is gentle on tendons and joints, internationally tested. |
Effects on hooves |
Depending on type and quality of sand. High horn abrasion. |
No experiences, possibly to dry for hooves. |
Almost no horn abrasion, possibility of wood splinters getting into sensitive part of hoove sole. |
Rubber is drying out the hoof. Skin and resoiratory irritations and allergic reactions possible. |
GGT-Footing decreases horn abrasion from the sand. |
Environment/Disposal |
No concerns or objections. |
Possibly hazardous waste!!
|
No concerns or objections, can be spread on meadows or pastures. |
Possibly hazardous waste!! |
Disposal like regular waste or can be resold for footing or landscape purposes.
Safety data sheet available. |
Maintenance |
Regular discing and/or harrowing. |
Harrowing difficult (textile shreds pile up).
Manure removal not easy! |
Regular harrowing and manure removal necessary. |
Regular harrowing and manure removal
(Through manure removal rubber enters the manure pile). |
Regular harrow possible, special harrow with lattice work roller is better. Does not have to be harrowed as often as fiber/sand mixture resists packing. |
Compare GGT Footing to Rubber and find a number of reasons to choose the right product. Six times as much rubber footing as GGT footing is needed for the same size arena. Remember to include the rental cost of a forklift for any rubber footing installation versus using a smaller spreader with GGT, and watering is less frequent.
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