Ocala, FL – Many equestrians work tirelessly to provide their horses with a standard of living that would be envied by anyone with two or four legs. These mounts are cared for, tended to, examined, and loved. They have a plethora of clothing for every season, top of the line healthcare and nutrition, special shoes and even designer accoutrements. Occasionally, these horses are asked to perform under less than ideal conditions that put their health and safety at risk. What puts them at risk? Unsafe or poorly designed riding surfaces. Why is this risky? Because a horse’s health, comfort, confidence and longevity depend on the quality of its daily training surface.
After competing in 22 countries and riding on many types of surfaces, international show jumpers Sharn Wordley and Craig Martin, both from New Zealand, were determined to make effective, safe footing available to North American athletes. The result is Wordley Martin Equestrian, which offers premium riding ring construction and specialized surfacing products.
“We wanted to bring the same quality of footing that we’d ridden on in Europe and other parts of the world to North America.” says Sharn Wordley. Inconsistent and less-than-ideal footing is a major health issue for the equine athlete. Every step a horse takes impacts his physical and mental well-being. “Once you’ve ridden on the best riding surface, you don’t want anything less,” explains co-founder, Craig Martin.
No matter your riding discipline, the investment you make in your horses and your sport is large, so providing a safe and effective training surface is critical. Footing that is too heavy and unstable can result in injuries, including soft tissue damage, such as suspensory tendonitis, because of the extra propulsion needed to leave the ground. Hard surfaces are often worse on a horse, causing joint and skeletal problems of the legs, back and shoulders.
Constructed in layers, each tier of a Wordley Martin ring is designed with safety in mind. The surfaces and unique design provide the optimal amount of cushion, give and grip that are needed for a horse to train safely and confidently. It is not enough to train securely in ideal weather conditions. Each of the Wordley Martin riding rings can be utilized around the clock while still providing a consistent and kind environment even with an extreme amount of moisture. The daily benefit is clear. “This footing system works with the functional musculoskeletal dynamics of the horse, not against it. It puts less stress on ligaments and tendons while supporting the efficiency of locomotion for the equine athlete,” says Duncan Peters DVM, MS of the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky.
The unique, white-hued surfacing material used is a distinct blend of materials and technology that can be recreated anywhere in North America. “We consider every factor as we design, construct and install the surfacing blends in our riding rings,” Wordley comments. Those factors include soil composition, natural drainage and slope, climate, number of horses and riding disciplines. The construction phase entails stabilizing the sub-grade material, creating the sub-base and base and customizing an irrigation plan based on the customer’s water availability. The final phase involves installing Wordley Martin Equestrian’s exclusive surfacing products. Wordley Martin completes the process by providing detailed instructions on how and when to water and drag the surface. Their construction makes maintenance easy, but their affordable annual maintenance and servicing programs offer continued support.
The Florida-based company is proud of the products and level of service they are providing to their fellow equestrians in North America. Riders who recognize good arenas and quality footing are happy to share their Wordley Martin experience. World Champion Hunter Rider, Peter Pletcher, of Magnolia, Texas calls Wordley Martin’s product, “the best footing I’ve ever ridden on.”
Olympian and top Grand Prix competitor Kevin Babington said, “For the past year, I have ridden in my Wordley Martin Equestrian arena and absolutely love it. I wouldn’t train at home on any other surface!” Other Wordley Martin customers include international competitors Schuyler Riley, Will Coleman, Kirk Webby, Max Amaya, Brianne Goutal, Derek Braun, and more.
For more information please visit Wordley Martin Equestrian, LLC at www.wordleymartin.com.
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