Spec it right.
Build it your way.
Performance Footing® manufactures arena footing additives, base stabilization, and dust control — and provides best-practice guides for proper installation.
Independent builder referrals available on request.
See Our Customers Arenas
Arena construction in action
Common Construction Mistakes To Avoid
Built wrong the first time?
Most failed arenas weren't unlucky — they were installed without an equestrian-specific footing approach. These are the mistakes that force a full rebuild in 2–3 years.
Inexperienced installers
General excavators who've never built a single arena learning on your dime
Inefficient base work
Shortcut bases that fail in 2–3 years and force a full tear-out and rebuild
Wrong sand spec
Mason sand, river sand, or quarry leftovers instead of a graded, sub-angular silica blend
Wrong base material
Round pea gravel or unscreened fill that shifts, drains poorly, and migrates up into footing
Layers installed incorrectly
Wrong depths, no compaction between lifts, geotextile pinched or skipped at transitions
No layered system at all
Sand dumped straight on dirt — no sub-base, no separation fabric, no stabilization
What to Look For
Specialists, not generalists
Equestrian arenas are a discipline of their own. Here's what an arena-specific spec covers, where most builds fail, and what changes when it's done right.
Clear depth & slope targets
Best-practice guides define slope, depth, and layer sequence so anyone building it has measurable targets.
Verified during install
Lifts should be verified — laser equipment, transits, or grade stakes — by whoever is on the equipment.
Quality materials
Sand, base stone, geotextile, and stabilization sourced to spec — substitutions should be reviewed carefully.
Typical failure analysis
When an arena needs to be torn out and rebuilt, this is what tends to be found.
Base failure
Uncompacted lifts, wrong stone gradation, no geotextile separation — the base shifts and the surface follows.
Wrong sand
Mason, river, or unwashed quarry sand instead of a sub-angular, graded silica blend specified for the discipline.
Drainage failure
Flat or reverse slope, no perimeter drainage, water sitting in the base for days after rain.
No stabilization
Sand sitting directly on stone with no geocell, mat, or fiber system — leading to deep spots, hard spots, and migration.
Before & after — same arena, done right
What changes when the mistakes above are corrected at the base.
Standing water 24–48 hours after rain
Rideable within 2–4 hours, fully drained overnight
Deep, inconsistent footing with hard spots
Uniform depth across the full surface, edge to edge
Dragged daily, still rutted by afternoon
Holds groom for multiple ride sessions
Dust clouds during every ride
Controlled dust with proper sand spec and moisture system
Base migrating into the footing within a year
Stabilized base locked in for 10+ years
Full rebuild needed every 2–3 years
Routine maintenance only — no tear-out
A Reference Build Sequence
Your arena, built right — from the base up
Below is a typical arena build sequence for reference. Your contractor will adapt it to your site, climate, and equipment.
We Listen First
Every arena is different. We start by understanding yours — what you ride, what's not working, what you've tried, and what you're hoping to achieve. No generic recommendations.
Base Construction Targets
Your contractor builds the base to the slope, depth, and compaction targets best-practice guides recommend — proper drainage and consistent depth across the surface. Method and equipment are up to the contractor.
BaseCore™ HD or Arena Mats
We supply premium stabilization products — BaseCore™ geocell systems and rubber arena mats — for longevity, drainage, and footing consistency. Your contractor installs.
Footing System
We help you assess sand and select the right FIBR, FLEX, and LOCK ratios for your discipline, climate, and sand type. Best-practice depth and blending guides included.
Equipment & Maintenance Setup
We match you with the right grooming and watering equipment for your specific footing blend, arena size, and maintenance capacity — so your surface performs from day one.
Arena Services
Engineered solutions for every arena need
Footing Additives & Dust Control
FIBR, FLEX, and LOCK plant-based additives plus dust control — matched to your discipline, climate, and sand type.
BaseCore™ & Arena Mat Systems
Geocell base stabilization and rubber arena mat products for longevity, drainage, and footing consistency.
Sand Selection & Best-Practice Guides
Sand sieve guidance, depth references, layer sequencing, and installation best-practice documents — for you or your contractor to work from.
Product Training & Support
We train you and your contractor on our products and answer questions during the project. Independent builder referrals available on request.
Why Choose Us
Spec, materials, and support. No guesswork.
Manufacturer — we make our own footing additives, dust control, and base stabilization products
Discipline-specific guidance — footing depth, composition, and feel matched to how you actually ride
Global shipping & consultation — we ship and consult worldwide across all climates and soil conditions
Independent builder referrals available on request
Where We Ship & Consult
Find your region. We support arenas there.
Global consultation and shipping across all 50 U.S. states, Canada, and beyond. Independent builder referrals available on request.
United States
50 locationsPlanning a build, anywhere in the world? Get help with your project.
Spec'd for every kind of equestrian facility
Every facility type carries its own demands — usage volume, discipline mix, budget structure, and maintenance capacity. We tailor product recommendations to the operation; your contractor handles installation.
Owner-built arenas for personal training and family riding.
High-use surfaces built for daily lessons and clients.
Durable, low-maintenance footing for mixed-discipline use.
Event-grade arenas built to handle horse-show volume.
Institutional builds for NCAA and IHSA programs.
Stable, predictable surfaces for adaptive programs.
Public-use builds suited to high turnover.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who actually performs the construction and installation?
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Performance Footing® is a manufacturer — we do not perform site work. We supply footing additives, base stabilization, dust control, and best-practice guides. Grading, base prep, and footing installation are carried out by the contractor you hire and contract with directly.
Can you work with my local contractor?
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Yes. Many clients use their own excavator, landscaper, or general contractor. We provide product specs, sand guidance, and best-practice installation documents. We're available to answer questions during the project.
What if I don't have a contractor?
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On request, we can refer you to an independent builder. You contract with the builder directly; Performance Footing is not a party to that contract.
I'm doing it myself — can you still help?
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Absolutely. We support DIY installers with product specs, sand evaluation, written guides, and answers to questions along the way. Many of our customers install their own footing successfully.
What does horse arena construction cost?
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Construction labor pricing comes from the contractor you choose. Performance Footing provides product and material pricing; build labor, equipment, and site work are quoted directly by your contractor based on size, base system, and site conditions.
How long does a new arena build take?
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Most new arena builds run 2–6 weeks on site once materials are staged, depending on size, site prep, and weather. Regrades and footing refreshes are typically 3–7 days. Timelines are set by the contractor you hire.
What disciplines are arenas built for?
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We spec footing systems for dressage, hunter/jumper, eventing, reining and western, barrel racing and rodeo, polo, driving, lesson programs, and all-purpose ranch arenas. Each system is tuned to discipline, climate, and sand source.
If it's important, it's not worth compromising.
Get your free arena estimate
Tell us about your arena and what's not working. We'll follow up with a custom plan and budget range — no obligation.