theplaidhorse.com • July 2017 • 29
the Difference the Butterfly Matting System was incorporated for its concussion relief underneath the GGT-Footing textiles.
county of Aiken, S.C. Joe Watkins from Longwood Farm arenas did the installation.
Princeton Horse Show in New Jersey was quick to come on board and used Drew Discount of Discount Dirtworks to install their all-weather, full-draining arenas.
Other new show venues incorporating GGT textiles are Hipico Santa Fe in New Mexico.
Fieldstone Farm in Massachusetts, under the tutelage of Scott and Shawn Clawson, have successfully installed GGT-Footing in all their arenas. This facility is home to the well-known Silver Oak Jumper tournament, which has been chosen to host this year’s Young Jumper Championships Eastern League Finals! Several years ago, GGT-Footing partnered with Dale Harvey of West Palms Event Management, with whom GGT-Footing sponsors a series of grand prix events. This grand prix is held at the Paso Robles Horse Park, Del Mar Horse Park Flintridge Riding Club, and Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center. All the footing at these shows In California are maintained by the well-liked and experienced “Tractor” Dean Hendrickson of West Coast Footings. Attwood Equestrian Services has been using our GGTFooting Butterfly matting system on top of the grass polo field at the Menlo Charity horse show for several years now with great success and putting the custom blend of GGTFooting and sand. Attwood has also provided Stableview Farm A top-notch equestrian training facility located in the heart of eventing country in Aiken S.C. with their custom recipe of GGT-Textiles. Aiken also has an equestrian horse park named after R. Bruce Duchossois who donated the land to his beloved
The newly-formed team called the Footing Firm has recently signed a contract for the Washington International Horse Show and the World Equestrian Center! We are pleased to hear that David Lauinger of DJL Equestrian services has secured a contract to redo and build arenas at Swan Lake Horse Show facility in Pennsylvania. GGT (German Geo Textile) is a superior material because of the consistent quality of geo textiles and fiber. It is comprised of non-woven, non-needle punched felt, which is stronger and more durable than any other material available. Unlike carpet matting that has a glued-on backing, GGT does not degrade into dust in a few years. It has a higher denier, (or thickness,), and higher U.V. rating than most other products available. Brewster-Keating is quick to point out that GGT never uses fiberglass which is abrasive to horses’ skin. Some show venues use fiberglass as it is much cheaper in the short term. Why does footing vary in hardness and consistency? Two answers: maintenance and sand composition. As BrewsterKeating explains, “We provide the ingredients to the arena builders and ring contractors. They mix it with high quality sands to make the footing they want. It’s like baking a cake. We provide the ingredients, but it is their recipe.” The type and amount of sand combined with GGT determines the consistency of the footing. Fine sand will make footing tighter and larger particles of sand will make it less firm.