Winter Equestrian Festival Features

OT40 Base Mats in Second 2021 Arena Upgrade After Rave Reviews

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Have you ever wondered what kind of arena makes even top riding professionals green with envy?

The Winter Equestrian Festival and its host, the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, are highly respected amongst the riding community not just because of their world-class competitions but also because of their dedication to superior riding surfaces. Their newest arena upgrade of the Mogavero Ring will be the second arena at the facility to feature the Equibase OT40 concussion/drainage mat system in its base.

The first arena at PBIEC to utilize the OT40 arena base mats was the DeNemethy Ring. The leadership team at Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), organizers of the Winter Equestrian Festival, picked the OT40 mats after extensive testing of a number of arena base products. “We had been evaluating all of the different footing products out there, and the ProEquus product tested fabulously,” said Michael Stone, President of ESP. “When you have a system that allows for a great take-off and a cushioned landing, it’s the perfect combination. People love it, the horses jump fantastic off it, and the riders are really happy.”

Created in Germany by ProEquus and distributed throughout the U.S. by TruTex Equestrian, OT40 base mats sit between the riding surface and the rock sub-base underneath. Their ultra rigid and heavy design prevents the mats from slipping or lifting. At the same time, the underside of the mats is designed to have a larger contact area with the base rock, which prevents them from becoming embedded and keeps the “springy” effect necessary for horses jumping great heights. In fact, an arena with an OT40 base absorbs more than 40% of the force applied on impact compared to a traditional base.

OT40 base mats also combine water drainage and water retention elements to create the ultimate all-weather arena that is ready to ride any day of the year. According to Stone, “We’ve had some heavy rains this season and the drainage was excellent. We were ready for competition almost immediately. We’re very happy to be working with such a high quality product.”

So, how does it work? The mats have a dual honeycomb-like system that retains water in evenly distributed wells while also providing drainage channels that divert and direct excess water for ultimate draining efficiency. Each mat holds between 1-2 gallons of water (depending on if it is the indoor or outdoor model), which is then wicked up into the surface as needed. That means a 20m x 60m ring will have up to 2,400 gallons of stored water that’s constantly being fed back into the surface! As a result, the arena has more consistent moisture across the entire riding surface while also requiring less frequent watering than a traditional arena. Originally only available to high-profile competition arenas and stables in Europe, the OT40 arena base system has recently made its way across the pond and is now making a huge splash in the U.S. riding scene. From PBIEC in the Southeast to The Iron Horse Farm in the Northwest, OT40 mats are the fastest growing arena base system in the country. Available exclusively through TruTex Equestrian, the mats also come with a 20 year performance guarantee, so you know it’s an investment for the long-haul.