We caught up with Dan Carr of Noviun Surface during the Prague Playoffs, where some of the world’s best horses and riders are competing this weekend. Between classes, Dan took a moment to talk about something most riders feel instinctively but don’t always break down: how footing affects the horse’s movement, comfort, and long-term soundness.
What followed was a clear, rider-friendly explanation of what good footing really does grounded entirely in the biomechanics and engineering principles that guide Noviun’s design.
Movement Starts at the Ground
Every stride a horse takes begins with a simple pattern: the hoof lands, slides just a little, and then rolls forward. Dan explained that this small sequence is far more important than it looks it’s how nature protects the limb.
A tiny, controlled slide of just 2–5 cm helps:
- soften the impact
- reduce strain on the suspensory and tendons
- lower peak load through the limb
- give the hoof time to stabilize before pushing off
If a surface grabs too quickly, the landing becomes harder, the limb takes more shock, and soft-tissue structures face extra stress.
“Good footing works with the horse’s natural pattern,” Dan told us. “Not against it.”