Did you know that all the arenas and round pens at The Shea Center together hold over 500 tons of sand?

Did you also know the sand is a special blend composed of at least nine different particle sizes to achieve a crucial balance of cushioning, stability, and traction? This helps reduce the risk of injuries by having the smaller particles fill gaps between larger ones for better compaction, while the angular shapes lock together for better traction. This special blend provides the necessary support and responsiveness for various riding disciplines. A single particle size compacts poorly, while a wide range allows for effective interlocking, giving the horse firm yet forgiving support.

In addition to the special blend of sand, The Shea Center footing includes a GGT (Geotextile Ground Textile) fiber made from repurposed geotextile fabrics. The GGT fiber is mixed in to improve water retention, help reduce dust, increase cushioning, and enhance the base properties of the sand. These fibers bind with sand and water, creating a resilient, cushioned surface that improves overall shock absorption properties.

Over time the sand is slowly pulverized, and the footing needs to be replaced. The average life of footing material at Shea is about seven years. The Shea Center recently replaced the footing in the two covered arenas over the holiday break. The old footing was repurposed to another equestrian facility in the area. Then 275 tons of new sand and 10,000 lbs. of GGT fiber were brought in and mixed on site over the course of two weeks. There are plans to replace the footing in the two uncovered arenas during the remainder of 2026. To preserve the footing as long as possible, the arenas are groomed twice each day.

In the end, these improved shock absorption and cushioning properties benefit the herd, staff, and volunteers by enhancing stability and traction to help prevent slips, improving moisture retention to reduce dust, and enabling more efficient drainage after rain to minimize downtime.

Another 2025 arena improvement was the replacement of the 20-year-old fluorescent ballast lights in the covered arenas with new LED fixtures, reducing energy consumption by approximately 35% and lowering annual maintenance costs thanks to the longer lifespan of LED tubes.

These important projects were made possible through the Build OC Fund from the Samueli Foundation, and we are grateful for the positive impact these investments are making.