When the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games get underway from 24 July to 8 August, the spotlight will be on the athletes competing for regional titles. In the equestrian arena, however, months of work will already have been done before the first horse enters the ring.
Noviun Surfaces has been responsible for constructing the arena footing for the Games, creating a surface designed to meet the demands of international competition while putting horse welfare at the centre of every decision.
More Than Just Sand
A competition arena is far more complex than it appears.
Beneath the surface are carefully constructed layers that each serve a purpose. The foundation provides stability, the drainage system manages heavy rainfall, and the riding surface is designed to deliver consistent footing throughout the competition.
For riders, consistency matters. Whether they are first into the ring or competing for a medal on the final day, they need confidence that the footing will perform the same way every time.
That reliability starts long before competition begins.
From Assessment to Installation
Building an international standard arena begins months before any new footing is delivered. Every stage of the process contributes to the performance of the finished arena.
Stage 1. Site Assessment
The project began with a detailed inspection of the existing arena. Noviun Surfaces’ owner, Dan Carr, assessed the condition of the footing, the underlying base, drainage system and surrounding environment to determine what work would be required to prepare the venue for international competition.
Stage 2. Evaluating the Sand Source
With the site assessed, attention turned to one of the most important components of the arena, the sand.
Dan visited the local quarry to inspect the available material, analysing its composition and suitability for an international competition surface. Selecting the right sand was essential to achieving consistent footing throughout the arena.
Stage 3. Preparing the Sand
Rather than simply accepting the material as supplied, Dan worked directly with the quarry to establish a washing process to remove the silt content producing sand that met the required specification.
This collaboration ensured the material delivered to the venue provided the consistency, uniformity and performance needed for elite equestrian sport.
Stage 4. Removing the Existing Surface
Once the new footing spec had been prepared, the existing riding surface was completely removed. Starting from the beginning again allowed the team to prepare the arena correctly before construction of the new footing began.
Stage 5. Preparing the Foundation
The arena base and supporting layers were then checked, replaced and levelled to ensure a stable platform capable of supporting the new riding surface while allowing water to drain efficiently during heavy Caribbean rainfall.
Stage 6. Installing the New Riding Surface
With the foundation complete, the new footing was installed in carefully controlled layers. Every section of the arena was blended, spread and levelled to achieve consistent depth and uniform conditions across the entire competition ring.
Attention to detail during installation ensured the footing delivered the ideal balance of grip, stability and cushioning for horses and riders alike.
Stage 7. Final Grooming and Testing
The completed arena was groomed, levelled and tested to confirm the footing performed consistently across the entire surface. Only after the final adjustments was the arena ready for international competition.
Built for the Caribbean Climate
Building an arena in the Caribbean comes with its own challenges.
High temperatures, humidity and sudden downpours all affect how a riding surface behaves. Designing a footing that can cope with those conditions takes careful planning, from selecting the right materials to ensuring water drains quickly without compromising the surface.
Every stage of the build was carried out with those conditions in mind, creating an arena capable of performing throughout the Games.
Putting Horse Welfare First
The quality of an arena has a direct impact on the horses competing on it.
A surface that is too firm can increase concussion, while one that is too deep can affect balance and place unnecessary strain on tendons and ligaments. The aim is to create footing that offers support, grip and cushioning without compromising performance.
Horse welfare was a priority throughout every stage of the project. From selecting and preparing the sand to the final grading of the surface, every decision was made to create footing that allows horses to perform comfortably and consistently.
It’s the kind of detail that often goes unnoticed by spectators, but riders feel it from the moment they enter the arena.
Ready for the Region’s Biggest Competition
The Central American and Caribbean Games are one of the region’s largest sporting events, bringing together athletes from across Central America and the Caribbean.
For equestrian competitors, years of training come down to a few minutes in the ring. The arena needs to provide the same conditions for every rider, every horse and every round.
That consistency is built into every layer beneath the surface and into every stage of its construction, from the initial site inspection through to the final pass of the arena groomer.
The Work You Don’t See
When the arena is complete, most visitors will notice the refreshed footing and tidy finish.
What they will not see is the months of planning and preparation behind it.
From inspecting the existing arena and evaluating local sand sources, to developing a sand washing process to remove the silt content, removing the previous footing, preparing the foundation and installing every layer of the new surface utilizing local materials, each stage contributes to the finished result.
The drainage layers, carefully prepared base and engineered riding surface all play a part in creating consistency from one end of the arena to the other. Those details influence every stride, every landing and every turn.
For Noviun Surfaces, that is the measure of a successful project.
If riders leave the arena thinking only about their horses and their performance, then the surface is doing exactly what it was built to do.