East-West Arena Construction Blog

Silica, or Silicon Dioxide, is a compound made up of oxide of silicon and has been made use of since ancient times. For use in the building industry it is widely versatile and used for many applications, such as;

• Concrete, concrete block, mortar, and cement.
• Tiles, brick, masonry, and refractory brick.
• Granite, sand, top soil, fill dirt.
• Asphalt containing rock or stone.
• Abrasive used for blasting and sanding.

With silica being so common and abundant in buildings, as soil, footing, and other applications it may be surprising to learn that inhalation of silica dust can be dangerous. In fact, the over exposure of silica dust can lead to a condition known as silicosis.

A horse that trusts you is going to be a horse with which you can have a good bond and partnership. With this said, it stands to reason that one of the first things you want to do is gain your horse's trust.

Are you wondering how to get a horse to trust you? Let’s look at some of the ways you can start to achieve this.

When traveling with horses, it is important that you take every precaution to ensure the safety and well-being of your horse. Whether it is a short or long duration trip, advanced planning is critical to a successful trip. Here are some helpful hints from Guidelines for Horse Transport by Road and Air edited by Catherine W. Kohn.

Make sure your horse is healthy before you begin to plan a trip. If the horse is having any health issues, a trip of any length will likely lead to a worsening of these conditions. A visit by the veterinarian should be your first step in planning to travel with your horse. They can ensure that the horse is healthy and ready to travel. If you are planning on traveling between states, the vet will know what blood tests, paper work, and vaccinations will be necessary. You need to keep the horse's health records with you when you travel with your horse.

Many students are currently looking for and applying to top equestrian colleges with hopes of being accepted. However, these are tough times for the equestrian sport. In October, 2014 the NCAA recommended equestrian be cut from the list of emerging sports for Women's Athletics, sending shock waves through the equestrian community.

Though it may not seem like a big deal, dust in arenas can have many negative impacts on health, performance, and overall look of your arena. Read on to find out why you should consider a low dust footing.

Dressage riders invest a lot of time and money into their mounts. The last thing they want is for bad arena footing to create injuries that require their horses to be laid up for a period of time while it recovers. GGT Dressage Blend is the highest quality and safest footing for Dressage

Stall flooring has a profound impact on the fitness and welfare of horses, particularly of horses that spend considerable amounts of time in their stalls. The ideal floor is one that: has some softness to decrease strain on the horse's legs; is non-slippery; remains dry; does not retain odors; is durable; and is easy to clean. 

It cannot be said that every horseman is concerned about professional arena construction. Take for example, the casual trail rider or the endurance rider-their arenas are either out on the open trail or over hundreds of miles of rough terrain.

Halloween is right around the corner, and it seems that everyone is getting into the spirit. Not only can you have four-legged hotdogs and cats with lion manes, but even iguanas seem to be getting in on the excitement. It's no surprise then that our equine friends should get to play dress up too. Here's our list of the top 10 horse costumes of all time.