Riding Arena Construction - Things to Consider

Are you considering whether or not to build your own horse riding arena?  It can bring definite advantages in terms of convenience, and maybe even in profit.  However, there are many issues to consider in riding arena construction.  First consider the quality of the footing, which is the surface material.

Contrary to what many believe, the most important material in construction is the base layer that determines the durability and longevity of your horse arena.

Riding Arena Footing Considerations

Contractors will focus on improving the base material installation under the footing.  The base of the riding road will be supported by a sub-base area of packed and graded native soil.  This design is comparable to road building, in that much of the cost of this project will be in site preparation.  The basis of this design is that this layer will keep the surface and groundwater from affecting the arena base area.

Building your own horse arena can be a complex project and will no doubt steal time away from your primary job of training horses.  For one thing, in addition to planning the specifications of your horse arena, you will have to check with your local government regarding zone issues for horse riding arenas.  Some localities will consider a horse arena as a commercial enterprise, while others may only see it as an agricultural property.  Then you have to consider the welfare of equine life in your horse arena, and whether the area is built for ideal ventilation, lighting and drainage.

Another frequently reported problem in building horse arenas is that of dust control, particularly the design of horse arenas that connect to barns.  Again, this problem is traced back the type of arena footing you choose to use.  Some experts have even suggested using footing like rubber to improve the problem.

Advantages of a Prefabricated Horse Riding Arena

Because of the complexities of building a horse arena yourself, or even the expense of hiring a general contractor, many have looked into the option of buying a prefabricated horse riding arena or a DIY horse arena kit. Prefabricated properties involve only minimal construction work to complete, for example, laying foundation and installing screws or nails.  The reason for this is that a prefabricated horse arena is assembled on-site before it is shipped to a homeowner’s property.  Even a non-modular horse arena requires only limited installation that can be performed by a non-professional worker.

Riding arenas layouts are provided as are detailed instructions on how to erect an indoor horse arena using steel framing.  Using steel horse arenas has offered numerous advantages over traditional construction including cheaper prices, easier and more affordable expansion work, sturdier frames, weather resistance and environmentally responsible construction.

Building a dual project of a horse barn and indoor arena would also be a costly investment.  Yet, it is a project that a general contractor or construction broker could not reasonably guarantee. On the other hand, pre-fabricated barns and arenas are usually guaranteed on warranty for a few decades, some as long as 30 or 40 years.

If you are considering the option of constructing a riding arena then buying a pre-fabricated building may be in your best interest.