Did you know that the “dirt” on the floor of the arenas is actually called “footing”? Did you know that The Shea Center has access to beautiful trails behind our property? Learn more below. 

About the Arena Footing

Footing is the sand mixture that looks like dirt on the floor of the arenas.  The footing is actually a mixture of silica, sand, and GGT fiber amendment.  The arena footing has special drainage and is harrowed (raked by tractor) and watered twice each day.

The footing is easier on a horse’s joints than regular clay soil, because it doesn’t compact as easily and its fluffiness helps absorb the shock of the horse walking or trotting in the arena.

Out On the Trail

In addition to riding in the arenas, some of our clients ride on the wood chip trail behind The Shea Center barn.  This is a nice change of scenery, and the trail provides fun and challenging proprioceptive input for our clients.

The trails behind the Center are part of the City of San Juan Capistrano trail system and are groomed and kept free of trash by The Shea Center.  Tierra Verde Industries, in Irvine, donates over $2,000 worth of mulch for the wood chip trail each year.  In 2019, The Capital Group donated employee time to rake and spread the mulch to make the trail safe for our clients.