The challenge
The average adult horse can weigh anywhere between 380 – 1,000Kg, all this load being transferred through 4 hoofs while standing and 2 whilst walking. So it’s no wonder when it comes to finding a flooring system for areas trafficked by horses, the requirements are extreme!
Ramped areas are high risk for horses to walk on, they require very high levels of skid resistance in both wet and dry conditions to reduce the risk of the horses slipping, in combination with high crush and compressive strength to ensure durability. The flooring system needs to be able to withstand the heavy impact and point loadings received from hooves and the various types of horseshoes which ranging from synthetic materials to extremely hard tungsten. This proves a difficult challenge, the majority of natural aggregates although hard and wear-resistant lack the crushing resistance to deal with these loads, even for the short term, leading to a rapid degradation of the flooring and a loss of slip resistance.
Since 2013 Triflex has been providing both fully and partially reinforced waterproofing and surfacing solutions to a highly prestigious stables which is world renowned for their horses and riding arena. The main aims of the client have been to limit the risks of slipping on ramps and to protect the concrete structure. Over various rapidly installed phases, Triflex has now covered an area of approximately 600 m² which is trafficked frequently by over 200 large horses with tungsten shoes as well as pedestrians.
The solution
Although Triflex systems featuring quartz and emery aggregate are very hard wearing and more than suitable for even the highest space change car parks, the high levels of impact from horseshoes and hooves causes these aggregates to become crushed, particularly in the larger particle sizes required for highly anti-skid ramps.
For this reason, Triflex initiated a test regime to find higher crush resistant aggregates which could be used within existing systems to provide higher performance over time. The result was ultimately to use a dense man made synthetic mineral with a very high hardness. The selected material is, in fact, one of the hardest minerals after diamond, but thankfully it is not as expensive.
After testing it was determined that the mineral could be used in both the Triflex ProFloor partially reinforced waterproofing system and the Triflex ProTerra fully reinforced waterproofing system creating Triflex ProFloor Extreme and Triflex ProTerra Extreme under our Triflex EquiTerra range of solutions for equine facilities.
Triflex ProFloor and Triflex ProTerra are highly certified and tested to both UK and European standards. The systems have been used for more than 20 years in wide ranging projects worldwide. The systems’ exceptionally fast cure times limit access restrictions and allow works to be carried out at night, removing unnecessary disruptions. Installation can also be carried out all year round as the systems cure rapidly at temperatures down to 0°C. It is compatible with most substrates including, concrete, asphalt, steel and timber and provides exceptional levels of adhesion, ensuring the system and aggregate remains firmly in place.
