We caught up with Dan Carr of Noviun Surface during the Prague Playoffs, where some of the world’s best horses and riders are competing this weekend. Between classes, Dan took a moment to talk about something most riders feel instinctively but don’t always break down: how footing affects the horse’s movement, comfort, and long-term soundness.
What followed was a clear, rider-friendly explanation of what good footing really does grounded entirely in the biomechanics and engineering principles that guide Noviun’s design.
Movement Starts at the Ground
Every stride a horse takes begins with a simple pattern: the hoof lands, slides just a little, and then rolls forward. Dan explained that this small sequence is far more important than it looks it’s how nature protects the limb.
A tiny, controlled slide of just 2–5 cm helps:
- soften the impact
- reduce strain on the suspensory and tendons
- lower peak load through the limb
- give the hoof time to stabilize before pushing off
If a surface grabs too quickly, the landing becomes harder, the limb takes more shock, and soft-tissue structures face extra stress.
“Good footing works with the horse’s natural pattern,” Dan told us. “Not against it.”
Grip Isn’t Always Good
Modern synthetic surfaces are often designed to increase traction, but too much grip can do more harm than good. Excessive hold can force the hoof to stop abruptly, increasing torque on the deep digital flexor tendon and creating more rotational stress in the fetlock.
Research consistently connects over-grippy footing with higher soft-tissue injury risk. Horses also begin moving less freely, sometimes bracing through the body or shortening their stride – all subtle signs that the surface is influencing their biomechanics.
The goal isn’t more traction. It’s the right amount of controlled slide.
Letting the Hoof Roll Forward
After that initial slide, the hoof needs to roll forward smoothly — a phase responsible for providing elastic energy, fluid stride length, and a natural breakover. Footing that holds the hoof “on top” or feels overly springy can interrupt this motion. Riders often feel it as a shorter, choppier stride or extra muscle tension in the horse’s body.
Surfaces built with natural fibers, like Noviun, allow the hoof to settle into the profile rather than perch on a plastic layer. This helps maintain that natural flow of landing, sliding, and rolling — the foundation of a comfortable stride.
Why Natural Fiber Footing Feels Different
One of the defining traits of Noviun is its use of natural fibers to create a footing that behaves more like turf, long considered the gold standard for safety and natural biomechanics. The design encourages:
- a light, consistent slide
- even shear for stability
- proper hoof penetration
- smooth breakover
- a clean, microplastic-free environment
Plastic fibers, by contrast, can form a gripping layer that changes with moisture and can alter how the horse moves.
Watering: The Hidden Influencer
Riders think about moisture mainly as “wet enough” or “too dry,” but the way water is delivered into the footing makes a huge difference in consistency and maintenance.
Ebb & Flow
- Essentially a shallow, buried water table under the arena
- Keeps the entire profile saturated
- High evaporation rate (baseline = 1.0)
Capillary Porous-Concrete Systems
- Smooth moisture distribution
- Reduce free-water exposure at the surface
- About 25–30% less evaporation than ebb & flow
Noviun + Hydro-Flow
- Water delivered through deep lines rather than a full water table
- The surface can run slightly drier without losing performance
- Natural fibers help retain moisture exactly where it’s needed
- Often cuts evaporative loss by around half compared to ebb & flow
The result is footing that stays consistent across weather changes — something every rider appreciates, whether competing or schooling at home.
Natural Movement = Happy Horses
In the end, what Dan highlighted most clearly was the importance of letting horses move the way they’re built to move. A surface shouldn’t impose a movement style or alter gait mechanics. Instead, it should support a horse’s balance, stride, and confidence.
When footing allows that natural combination of landing, slight slide, and smooth roll, horses can relax, open their stride, and use their bodies more comfortably — something riders feel immediately.