Is there any steel content in Surefoot? No. Surefoot 1/2 inch chips are smaller than most others. The smaller the chips, the less likely they are to contain embedded steel wire. To ensure that all wire is removed, Surefoot chips pass through 4 unique, state of the art magnets during the manufacturing process. This extra attention literally ensures no steel content. In fact, Surefoot is guaranteed to be 99.9% steel-free.

Will SureFoot crumble, disintegrate, or decompose? No. Surefoot chips are made from 100% tire rubber. All tires are made of vulcanized rubber… the vulcanizing process makes the rubber literally indestructible.

Is SureFoot ever slippery? No. The Surefoot/sand mix is one of the safest footings you can use, especially when it comes to traction. Surefoot rubber promotes instantaneous drainage and will not freeze or become slippery.

Is SureFoot ever dusty? Being that the rubber does not break down, it will not create dust. In fact, Surefoot is often added to existing footing specifically to reduce dust. It is recommended that Surefoot be mixed with sand and your choice of sand will make a big difference in how dusty your arena gets. Surefoot does contain a certain amount of fiber. When watered, these fibers will retain tiny amounts of moisture and thus reduce dust and the need to water frequently.

How does Surefoot compare with shredded sneakers and other forms of rubber? "Rubber for footing applications is generally made from recycled tires. There are rubber footings available made from products such as sneakers, golf grips, conveyor belts, and lacrosse balls. However, compared to tire rubber they are lighter weight and tend to blow or wash away and will break down over time" ( Under Foot 2000 edition).

Do outdoor Surefoot surfaces blow or wash away? No. Surefoot chips are too heavy to be significantly affected by normal high winds or heavy rains.

Does Surefoot come in any color besides black? Yes. For stables and horse parks that want to make a big visual impact, we offer custom-colored Surefoot to match stable or corporate colors at a reasonable price.

How durable is colored Surefoot? The chips are no less durable than black Surefoot. As leaders in the recycled rubber industry, we have developed a non-toxic, highly durable paint for the rubber. The end result is that the colored Surefoot should not fade any faster than that of good quality house paint, and may very well last much longer.

Is Surefoot toxic? No. Surefoot is non-toxic (and in the case of colored surfacing chips, only non-toxic paints are used). The chips have no taste appeal, but if they should be accidentally swallowed, test reports show that the chips will simply pass through the digestive tract of both humans and animals. (Maryland Enviornmental Services, 1994)

Do Surefoot chips smell? No. Some odor may be present at the time of installation, but, similar to installing a new shower curtain, any odor will soon disappear.

Will Surefoot blacken the area where they are installed? No. Unlike wood mulch or chips which can bleed when wet, Surefoot does not stain.

What happens to leaves or pieces of hay that fall or blow onto Surefoot surfaces? Those that are not removed by lightly raking the surface will simply drain through the chips and decompose over time.

Can Surefoot be used in horse stalls? Yes, however we don't recommend it, because over time, substantial amounts can end up being removed through daily mucking of stalls.

How is Surefoot installed? For arenas, we recommend the base be prepared ahead of time using 4-6 inches of crushed stone and compacting it well, to the hardness of asphalt. Once the base is ready, Surefoot is delivered by truckload and dumped at the entrance to the arena. Although Surefoot can be used alone, we recommend mixing 1" of Surefoot with 1.5"-2" of sand that meets the ASTM standard C-33. One ton of Surefoot spread to 1" deep, covers approximately 860 square feet. For breeding sheds, we recommend 4-12 inches of Surefoot, in a color to match your farm's identity.

What maintenance is required? As with any type of footing, you will probably want to water and drag a Surefoot arena occasionally. However, you will find that it's necessary less often with Surefoot than with other footings that compact or get dusty easily.

Will the Department of Environmental Protection bother property owners where Surefoot is installed? No. The DEP "strongly promotes the use of recycled products since it is essential to the long-term success of local and national recycling programs." In fact, the DEP visited the Surefoot manufacturing plant and has expressed enthusiasm for the company's efforts to rid the environment of hazardous tire disposal sites by creating a positive environmental use. The DEP also says that the use of Surefoot recycled tire chips in equestrian arenas is not subject to DEP regulation, and there are no special removal requirements associated with the closing of an arena that has used the footing.

How is shock absorption determined? The U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, the U.S. Testing Company, and the State of Illinois, among numerous state and federal agencies, independent laboratories and licensed testing companies have conducted various tests designed to measure the shock-absorption of various surface materials as they relate to falling objects. Tire rubber chips have been shown to consistently absorb more shock impact than any other standard surface material, including sand, blue stone, shavings and mulch. This is particularly important because the repeated concussion horses experience from being ridden on hard surfaces can set the stage for arthritis and shortened performance life.

How does the cost of Surefoot compare to other products? Surefoot is generally a little bit higher initially than sand, mulch, and other footings, but because no annual replenishment is needed, the savings quickly add up with Surefoot. Surefoot only needs to be installed once.