About Our Arena

A well-designed arena surface is the foundation of every safe, comfortable ride. At INTO THE WEST INDOOR ARENA we use OTTO Perforated Mat, a purpose-built footing that balances cushioning, traction and stability, absorbing up to 40 % of the force caused by the striking hoof, protecting horses’ musculoskeletal system.

Proper moisture retention and uniform depth prevent holes and uneven wear, lowering the risk of slips, trips and overreach injuries.

Superior drainage keeps the surface reliable in wet weather and slows dust for healthier lungs in both horse and rider.

A specially designed system of traction-knobs of different lengths on the upper side of the OTTO Perforated Mat guarantees a secure surface preventing horses from slipping – a priceless advantage during sharp bends and turns.

Regular maintenance—harrowing, levelling and top-dressing—preserves performance and prolongs the life of the footing.

In short, the right surface protects your horse’s welfare, boosts confidence and helps every ride feel better from warm-up to cool-down.

A wooden fence with a yellow sign reading 'ARENA' attached to it. Green foliage and trees are in the background along a dirt road under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Close-up of metal tunnel guides with a yellow and black logo in the center showing a leaping horse and the word 'otto' beneath it. Below, a title reads 'Installation Guide for outdoor riding arenas, paddocks, tolt, race and training tracks.'

Preliminary Work

For riding arenas and paddocks:

  • Removal of humus layer

  • Grading of the surface considering a slope of 1 - 1.5%; the soil has to be compacted.

A toy excavator lifting a small pink toy truck in a park with trees and grass visible.

Base Layer

Applicable to riding arenas, paddocks, tölt, flying pace and training tracks:

  • Stabilizing layer of crushed stone (0-32mm to 0-45mm) with compaction

  • Installation thickness: approx. 10-20cm

Construction site with heavy machinery including a yellow roller, an orange water truck, and a yellow grader on a gravel surface, with workers present and trees in the background.

Drainage Layer

For riding arenas and paddocks:

  • Approx. 5-8cm crushed stone with a grain size of 5-11mm or 8-16mm is spread on the bearing sub-base layer.

A gravel area in front of a wooded area with tall trees and green leaves.

Drainage pipes

Applicable to riding arenas, paddocks, tölt, flying pace and training tracks:

  • It is of the utmost importance that any water in the drains can be drain unhindered.

  • In the drainage clefts, this should be done by means of drain pipes.

Illustration of groundwater being extracted through a well, showing water droplets moving downward through layers of rocks and soil.

Setting of the OTTO-PerforatedMats™

For riding arenas and paddocks:

  • The OTTO-PerforatedMats™ ought to be set with an expansion joint of approx. 3cm considering a displacement (see illustration). The knobs have to be on the upper side. We recommend rolling the mats after setting (roller weight approx. 400 to 800kg).

For tölt, race and training tracks:

  • if the track is not wider than 5 metres, perforated or closed mats can be used. We recommend rolling the mats after setting (roller weight approx. 400 to 800kg).

Diagram showing two concrete slabs separated by gravel and a gap, with reinforcement bars underneath.

Filling up with gravel

Valid for riding arenas, paddocks, tölt, race and training tracks:

  • The perforated mats are filled up with crushed stone (grain size 2-5mm) or rough sand (grain size 2-5mm) until reaching the upper edge of the water reservoirs, so that the upper part of the knobs (approx. 1cm) remains uncovered.

Footing

For riding arenas, paddocks, race and training tracks:

  • Distribute washed, water-permeable silica sand mixed with woodchips of Synthetic additives over the mats.

  • We will specify the approximate mixture ratio of the footing for you.

  • In lunge pens, we recommend installing a layer thickness of 10cm.

  • Please adhere closely to the maintenance guide.

For paddocks:

  • Just distribute washed, water-permeable sand - at least 7-10cm - (depends on the arena size) over the mats.

  • The mats should be covered with enough footing material.

  • Please adhere closely to the maintenance guide.

Close-up of a gravel surface with a silhouette of a skid steer loader in the background and instructions about soil and gravel installation.
Close-up of light-colored dirt or sand with small rocks and footprints. Construction equipment, a skid-steer loader, is on a dirt road next to a landscaped area with a low brick border.

Surrounding

  • We recommend installing kickboards of weather-resistant squared wood with a height of approximately. 18cm.
    Please note:
    The surrounding must be set on the base layer (crushed stone) to ensure drainage.

Cross-section diagram of the OTTO Sport Riding Surface System showing layers including ArenaTex Footing, filtration layer of crushed stone, perforated mat, drainage layer of crushed stone, and subsoil with 1% to 1.5% incline.

Ready to Ride with Us?

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