“The product has been used overseas for years with a lot of success,” says John Deinhart, a footing expert and co-owner of West Coast Footings. “It is a geo-textile fabric, generically known as Eurofelt. We can have it ground down to our specs and even add fibers or sand to it.”
John and his wife, Barb, have over 30 years’ experience as both competitors and arena designers developing ideas for new materials and equipment to continually raise the quality of footing surfaces in the U.S.
“We look at footing differently than most people,” explains John. “We like to see how a product lasts in the long term, not just a year after it has been added. To evaluate a product you need to see a two to three year life span and see how it is going to pass the test of time. After about five years then you really have a good base line on how it is going to hold up and you see which products are worth their dollar and which aren’t.”
Pos-A-Trac is a derivative of the footing surface used at both the 2005 and 2007 FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas. John first got involved with the World Cup in 2000 when he was hired by the Las Vegas organizers to work alongside the renowned European footing expert, the late Herman Ducek. He says that three major factors go into developing a good riding surface - being able to control the air, moisture and consistency of the footing.
“Each discipline needs a slightly different amount of air and cushion for its footing,” explains John. “What is so great about Pos-A-Trac is that it has a lot of versatility to work with, so owners get the maximum out of their footing at a moderate price. It holds moisture very well, so it stays consistent. Moisture is what holds footing together and enables lateral energy for better control during turns and more stability over fences.”
While Pos-A-Trac has only been in West Coast Footings’ lineup for two months, John has great expectations for the product.
For more information on West Coast Footings and/or Pos-A-Trac, please call the company at 800-585-7000 or visit www.wcfootings.com.