New platform brings engineering, data, and artificial intelligence to arena footing design, analysis, and optimization
EDINBURGH, Indiana – 2nd July 2026 — Vantage Equestrian today announced the launch of Arena Insights™, a new suite of products and tools powered by Vantage Arena AI™, the world’s most advanced arena footing design agent.
Developed specifically for the equestrian industry, Arena Insights is designed to help arena owners, trainers, facility managers, builders, architects, and equestrian professionals make more informed footing decisions through science, engineering, and data-driven analysis.
The launch addresses a long-standing challenge within the equestrian industry: footing decisions that often rely on anecdotal experience, vendor recommendations, or trial-and-error rather than objective engineering principles.
“A great arena begins with a simple goal: putting the horse first,” said Tom Marsh, Owner of Vantage Equestrian. “Every footing decision is ultimately a decision about the horse. Arena Insights and Vantage Arena AI were created to help facilities make those decisions with greater confidence, clarity, and understanding.”
A New Standard for Arena Footing Intelligence
At the core of Arena Insights is Vantage Arena AI, a patent pending, specialized artificial intelligence platform engineered specifically for arena footing design and analysis.
Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Vantage Arena AI functions as a virtual footing engineer. The platform evaluates the engineering and material characteristics that influence footing performance, including:
- Sand mechanics
- Mineral composition
- Particle shape and distribution
- Moisture sensitivity
- Compaction behavior
- Load response
- Discipline-specific performance requirements
The result is a system capable of producing conservative, repeatable, and defensible footing recommendations designed to support horse safety, consistency, performance, and long-term value.
Engineering- Intelligence. Horse-Focused.
Arena Insights was built around four core principles:
Science-Driven
Every footing system begins with understanding the foundation. Arena Insights prioritizes sand analysis and engineering characteristics before evaluating additives and surface enhancements.
Discipline-Specific
The demands placed on an arena by a Grand Prix jumper differ significantly from those of a dressage horse, reiner, event horse, or hunter. Arena Insights evaluates footing requirements in the context of each discipline’s unique performance characteristics.
Engineering-Focused
Recommendations are grounded in engineering principles, informed by real-world experience, and focused on measurable results.
Horse-First
Because every footing decision is ultimately a decision about the horse.
Putting Arena Insights to the Test
As part of the launch, Vantage Equestrian is inviting arena owners and facility managers to submit footing samples for analysis through Arena Insights.
By evaluating sand composition, material characteristics, and performance variables, Arena Insights can help identify factors influencing surface behavior, consistency, maintenance requirements, and overall footing performance.
“We believe Arena Insights represents a new standard in arena footing intelligence,” Marsh added. “But we don’t expect the industry to simply take our word for it. We invite facilities to send us a sample of their footing and allow Arena Insights to demonstrate what engineering-driven analysis can reveal.”
Learn More
To learn more about Arena Insights™ and Vantage Arena AI, watch the launch video or visit:
Website: www.vantage-equestrian.com/arena-insights
Video: youtu.be/2Z-HkB783DY
About Vantage Equestrian
Vantage Equestrian is dedicated to advancing arena design, footing performance, and equestrian facility solutions through innovation, engineering expertise, and a commitment to horse welfare. By combining industry knowledge with emerging technologies, Vantage Equestrian helps facilities create safer, more consistent, and higher-performing riding surfaces.
