The quality of the surface is of great importance in all branches of equestrian sport. In order to ensure both the rider’s enjoyment and the horse’s health, it is necessary that the surface is not too wet and not too dry. Anybody who depends on an outdoor paddock in our climate will understand the limitations. Persistent rain can often drench paddocks to such an extent that a horse must literally plough its way through the ground, and the rider is constantly hindered by flying dirt. The usual procedure is to use ditches and sprinklers to attempt to regulate the moisture level of the ground. However, these measures tend to be insufficient, not to mention labour intensive.

A number of years ago, as an attempt to solve this problem, I started to build paddocks that allow you to completely control the surface moisture level. Using a simple technique, the moisture level of this surface can be fine-tuned to match the rider’s needs perfectly. Imagine that you are riding on a beach. You have the option of riding through the loose sand close to the dunes, or near the water where the surface is firmer and much lighter to ride. The surface of the paddock can be adjusted to suit any conditions perfectly. This means that you need never again ride in a paddock that is too heavy, you can say goodbye to flying dirt, and the chance of injury to the horse is drastically reduced.