Breen Equestrian, the home and training facility of Shane Breen, based at the prestigious Hickstead Showground. The aim of this project was to provide a self irrigating, top quality surfacing solution to minimise the mains water use.

Andrews Bowen were able to provide a solution for this by installing a fully water managed Equaflow System which includes rain water harvesting from the roof of the Indoor arena. Mains water back up ensures minimum operating water levels are maintained for surfacing requirements in the event of insufficient rainfall. Pressure pumps are in place to deliver water to washdown outlets on demand by the surplus water being made available for Shane’s horse wash down area via pressure pumps.

The finished result gives an extremely well conditioned surface, via watering the surface from beneath by The Equaflow System. This method of surface irrigation saves approximately 60% of water when compared to watering from above.

Shane has the Andrews Bowen 2012 surface in his indoor arena, Andrews Bowen 2012 mix, the most scientifically researched surface, was developed specifically for the London 2012 Olympics. The surface is proven for the full range of Olympic and Paralympic disciplines and endorsed by the FEI. The 2012 mix is a very hard wearing surface and capable of supporting the highest levels of equestrian competition indoors and out.

The 2012 mix is made from multi-washed silica sand and three types of specialist polypropylene fibre, delivering a huge step forward in performance surface technology.

Lars Roepstorff, professor in equine functional anatomy at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, has been carrying out research on the properties of equestrian surfaces around the world as part of a long-term scientific footing study for the FEI. He considered the London 2012 footing – on Andrews Bowen surfaces – to be amongst the best and particularly the most consistent he has worked on.