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Determining Optimal Moisture Content of Sand Arena Footing for Equine Jumping

CSEF · 2026 Applied Mechanics (Junior Division)

Elise Hendrix

Overview

I am a competitive equestrian. The moisture level of arena footing in equestrian facilities is often not measured precisely. Jumping footing needs to be soft enough to absorb impact but firm enough to support horses during takeoff. I wanted to discover the ideal moisture range for sand footing to promote jumping performance and minimize injuries. I hypothesized the optimal moisture range would be 20-30% saturation, and a pinless moisture meter could be used to detect the saturation level. I built an impact test device to measure the peak acceleration of a 2.25kg drop weight upon impact. I created footing material with layers of crushed rock and sand. Higher moisture levels absorbed more impact energy and peak acceleration decreased, but the sand structure was weakened. A 40-50% moisture content appeared conducive to optimal performance for equestrian jumping. More moisture leads to unstable surfaces. Too little moisture doesn’t provide enough shock absorption.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2026 Applied Mechanics (Junior Division) · Entry J-02-28

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