Martin Collins’ surfaces have a proven track record for quality, durability & performance and the company has an after sales service that is second to none.

The company was founded by Martin Collins nearly 30 years ago and is now the UK's top equestrian surface manufacturer and installer, with a growing international operation.

However it is important to stress that Martin Collins provides a full construction service and undertakes commissions that range from the single horse owner to the large commercial projects. It has provided the surface for major events and some of the world’s major racecourses but will also undertake a simple re-grade and level or lay a top-up on a small school.

Martin Collins supplies all equestrian disciplines and offers a range of different surfaces. These are offered on either a ‘materials supply basis’ or as part of a full construction project.

In 1996, the first purpose built factory was opened in Lambourn, Berkshire, UK. This allows all products to be mixed under cover to ensure consistency and quality control. Major investments into overseas plant, research and development continue and all products undergo stringent environmental testing.

It has developed a range of maintenance equipment suitable for use with a quad, 4X4 or tractor to ensure clients get the ultimate performance from their surface.

There are a range of wax-coated surfaces available from Martin Collins:

New Generation Polytrack- the racing surface
Ecotrack - the competition surface
Activ-Track- for the owner/rider or smaller yard that demands a high performance

Martin Collins also produces dry surfaces - these do not have a wax coating, therefore they require an irrigation system and could freeze in cold weather.

Dry Ecotrack – all the benefits of a consistent and proven surface.
CLOPF® Fibre – to add into an existing sand surface

POLYTRACK - Racing

Created using a highly sophisticated manufacturing process, every particle is coated with wax. The Polytrack system comprises a level vertical drainage system, which differs from the cambered horizontal systems that can cause huge variance in going, and results in consistency that gives the horse the confidence to perform to its best.

Polytrack is used in racing yards, studs and racecourses worldwide, including prestigious training centres at Newmarket, Epsom, The Curragh, North Yorkshire, Chantilly, Maison Lafitte, France and Miho in Japan.

Martin Collins has installed a total of nine synthetic racetracks in four countries: three in the UK at Lingfield, Wolverhampton and Kempton Park; one in Ireland at Dundalk, one in Canada at Woodbine and four in the USA at Keeneland, Turfway Park, Arlington Park, and Del Mar. The number will increase to ten when Great Leighs in Essex opens in April 2008.

ECOTRACK – Sports Horse Competition

Ecotrack is the competition quality surface used at many international events and at home by many elite riders from all disciplines.

These include

Nicola McGivern, British Dressage Team Squad Member, Bucks
Jane and Aram Gregory, Olympian Team Member, International Dressage Competitors and Trainers, Wiltshire
Richard Davenport, GB Young Rider Show Jumping Squad, Herefordshire
Kitty Boggis, First event rider to represent GB at all levels from Pony – Senior and Member of the World Class Potential Programme, Wiltshire

Ecotrack has provided sound footing for a variety of competition venues including:
The Royal Windsor Horse Show
Hickstead
Addington Equestrian Centre
The London International Horse Show (Olympia)

ACTIV-TRACK

Activ-Track was developed for the smaller professional yard or the owner-rider that wants the benefits of a wax coated surface.

Activ-Track is manufactured using a blend of Martin Collins’ Equicourt washed and cleaned PVC granules, high grade industrial washed silica sand and the company’s wax coating with the addition of its CLOPF® fibre. The addition of the fibre gives the surface additional root structure, providing more stability and energy return. Due to the materials being blended through the manufacturing process, it gives a more consistent ride.

Activ-Track has been installed by:
RDA Centres
Show Jumping Association (Guernsey)
Professional event riders
Show pony producers

CLOPF ®

CLOPF® fibres are a blend of a number of different polypropylene fibres. When mixed through sand they give the surface a better root structure thereby allowing the horses to work on top of the surface rather than into it. It will also improve the energy return and moisture retaining properties of the surface.

It is simple to lay and costs from @ £2,500 (before delivery, plant, labour & VAT) to improve a 40m x 20m sand, sand and rubber or PVC/sand surface.

Adding CLOPF® fibre to the existing sand helps to create a root structure within the sand. This provides better stability, cushion and energy return to the horse. The fibre has been added with great success to a number of different grades of sands around the world; however, the use of a high grade silica sand with up to a 15% clay or silt content is recommended.

Martin Collins has supplied CLOPF® upgrade to a variety of clients including:

Stal Tops, Valkenswaard - base of Jan Tops and venue of the Horse Festival Valkenswaard (International Showjumping)
Nick Skelton, Warwickshire
Clayton Fredericks, Wiltshire

DRY ECOTRACK

Dry Ecotrack is a recent addition to the Martin Collins stable. It is of competition quality but as it is not wax-coated it is a cost effective surface solution, ideal where regular maintenance and watering will be undertaken.

It provides a stable and secure surface on which to work the horse and is equally suitable for both dressage and jumping.

MARTIN COLLINS – A SURFACE FOR ALL DISCIPLINES

RACING AND BLOODSTOCK – Polytrack

Martin Collins was the first synthetic surface supplier to gain Jockey Club approval for the provision of racetrack surfaces and its wax-coated Polytrack is one of the world’s leading surfaces for all-weather racing.

Clients in the racing industry include:-

Racetracks:
Wolverhampton
Lingfield Park
Kempton Park
Great Leighs
Dundalk
Woodbine
Turfway Park
Keeneland
Del Mar
Arlington Park

Trainers:
Aidan O'Brien
Edward O’Grady
John Dunlop
Paul Nicholls
Henrietta Knight
Philip Hobbs
Barry Hills
Jim Bolger

Public Training Grounds Include:
Newmarket
Epsom
Lambourn
Malton
Keeneland
The Curragh, Eire
Duninga, Eire
Chantilly, France
Maison-Lafitte, France

DRESSAGE

The dressage horse needs a surface that provides secure footing that is neither too deep nor too firm. Martin Collins surfaces provide sufficient security for deeper turns, greater collection and also allow the horse to develop its paces and athleticism.

The wax-coated surfaces such as Ecotrack or Activ-Track are more sympathetic to the horse, providing stability under hoof plus the correct amount of 'give' for the downward and forward movement of the leg on contact with the ground.

Martin Collins supplies surfaces to many World class dressage riders including:
Nicola McGivern
Nicky Barrett
Emile Faurie
Richard Davison
Dane Rawlins
Jane and Aram Gregory
Sandy Phillips
Ferdi Eilberg

as well as World Class dressage venues including:
Hickstead, Sussex
The National Dressage Championships, Stoneleigh, Warks

SHOWJUMPING

Martin Collins specializes in wax-coated surfaces - these provide a more stable surface from which a horse can jump and not slip on either take off or landing. This applies to novice animals or the more advanced horse jumping large tracks. They also help to minimise injury to both the bone and muscular structure of the horse.

Martin Collins’ surfaces provide jumping horses with the stability under hoof they need for quick turns and a speedy jump off and enable the correct amount of downward and forward movement necessary to accommodate the locomotion of the animal's limbs on take off and landing.

Martin Collins supplies surfaces to many events including:

The London International Horse Show at Olympia,
Hickstead
Royal Windsor Horse Show

and to World Class riders including:
Peter Charles
Michael Whitaker
Robert Smith
Nick Skelton

EVENTING

The event horse needs a surface that provides secure footing and is neither too deep nor too firm. Ecotrack or Activ-Track provides sufficient security for jumping and also allows the horse to develop its paces and athleticism, which is so vital for the dressage phase.

Martin Collins supplies surfaces to many World Class event riders including:
Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks
James Hamilton
Tim Collins
Dag Albert
Owen Moore
John Bowen

POLO

The Polo pony needs a specialist surface on which to play Arena Polo, as it must provide great security but not cause ‘jarring up’. Martin Collins polo surfaces provide ‘faster going’ with the maximum 'grip' under hoof for those quick turns and bursts of acceleration.

Martin Collins supplies surfaces for many polo teams on which to stick and ball their ponies and also for Arena Polo, including tournaments at:

Longdole Polo, Birdlip, Glos
Herefordshire Polo Club
Hickstead, Sussex
Belmont Centre, London
Ladyswood Polo, Wilts
Watership Down Partnership, Berks
Gatesby Farm, Berks

DRIVING

Martin Collins has supplied many surfaces that are used by driving teams. A surface suitable for driving needs to allow both the horse and turnout to travel on top of the surface and not into it. It must also be sympathetic to the horse’s limbs and help the horse develop its paces and athleticism, which is so vital for the dressage phase.

Unicorn Trust, which is also the training centre for the Under 21’s Dressage Training Squad and British Eventing Teams.

RDA

Martin Collins is a long time supporter of Riding for the Disabled and is proud to have supplied many centres with surfaces that enable walkers and ponies to move with the minimum of effort and maximum safety.

Many RDA horses and ponies are no longer 'youngsters' and therefore need a more sympathetic surface to accommodate their older limbs and muscular structure.

Martin Collins has supplied surfaces for many RDA centres including:

The Chigwell Riding Trust, Essex
Cotwold, Cheltenham, Glos
Chiverton, Cornwall
New Yatt, Oxfordshire
The Wormwood Scrubs Centre (featured in the TV Show ‘Challenge Anneka’), London
Drum, Scotland