World Class Surface for the Sydney International Equestrian Centre

The Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC), home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic equestrian events, has received a major upgrade to its indoor arena that will ensure it now offers a world standard competition surface.

Installed by Otto Sport International, the new arena combines Australian sand that has been specially tested by the company’s laboratory in Germany with Otto-ArenaTex that contains geotextiles and synthetic fibres that help maintain correct moisture levels. Perforated mats have been laid underneath the surface to reduce concussion on the horse by 40%. The warm-up arena attached to the indoor has also received an upgrade to this innovative surface.

Top Australian dressage competitors Brett Parbery and Denise Rogan tested the new arenas today and could not have been happier with how they rode.

“It feels fantastic. The horses feel great off the surface and it feels consistent all the way through. Having ridden here for nearly 20 years you can really notice the difference, it’s like chalk and cheese,” said Parbery.

“It makes it truly international and I think everyone will benefit from it.”

Equestrian Australia Chair Judy Fasher welcomed the exciting new upgrade; 

“We are enormously grateful to the State Government because this is unique in the world and the only Olympic legacy for Equestrian sport that has been kept. To upgrade it now so it’s on par with everything internationally is extremely important for our sport,” said Fasher.

“We desperately need to be up there amongst the medal winners in all three of our disciplines, jumping, dressage and eventing and this will be an assistance to us in getting to this stage.”

OTTO Sport International, is known globally for producing footing for equestrian arenas at the world’s biggest events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is now helping to drive the education strategy for the FEI - the global governing body for horse sport. The company gives top industry insight to users of FEI Campus, the successful and free e-learning gateway - www.feicampus.org - on equestrian arena footing, designed to positively affect horses not just while they compete but during training at home and leisure riding.

More info on https://equestriancentre.nsw.gov.au/