A recent study promoted by Ecopneus and Unione Italiani Sport Per Tutti (UISP) has been carried out by the Department of Veterinary Studies of the University of Perugia under the coordination of Professor Marco Pepe.
The study has confirmed how horse-riding surfaces in recycled rubber are excellent surfaces for training and relaxation and they are very similar to the best sand fields – at least for gait and dressage. Moreover, they also allow good comfort of use for both horses and their riders. The study was presented during Fiera Cavalli 2018.
Indeed, in the last 30 years, important improvements related to the various surfaces used for competition or training fields have been introduced in the equine sector, both for show jumping and dressage. The development went from grass surfaces (which are not very regular and compact) to sand, which is softer and, apparently, more comfortable and accessible in different weather conditions. Ecopneus and UISP have been working together for some years in order to develop an excellent horse-riding surface, completely made with recycled rubber from ELTs. So far, the advantages have been many: from a financial point of view, the surface lasts longer than natural turf and there are no costs for irrigation and phytosanitary treatments. Recycled rubber avoids using other more expensive raw materials; moreover, a material derived from a product that reached the end of its life has found a new use. Rubber granules increase the comfort of both horses and their riders and facilitate the drainage of rainwater.
