Horse arena construction guide

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horse arena location can have a huge factor on how much it costs for your horse arena construction , So it’s worth thinking about arena access and how much cut and fill would be needed before deciding upon your horse riding arena location.

The size of your horse arena will be dictated by your budget, space and what you intend to use it for. show jumping arenas are usually 60m  x 35m. Novice dressage arenas are usually 40m x 20m whilst advanced dressage is 60m x 20m. Also worth thinking about the additional extras you might want such as arena mirrors and flood lights.

Once you have decided your horse arena size and location its time to apply for planning permission, remember to include any additional work other than the riding arena such as access roads, mirrors and floodlights

Once you have decided upon the arena location and have obtained planning permission its time to start groundworks to create a level and solid sub base, this can involve a simple soil strip if the ground is already level or if the ground is on a slope a cut and fill would be needed where the ground is stripped from the the highest point and tipped in the lowest part. It is then compacted heavily to prevent sinkage.

Properly installed drainage is the key to creating a horse riding arena that works well all year round. If the horse riding arena has had a cut and fill then a ring drain along the cut should also be installed

The base layer stone has two very important jobs, the first being to allow water to reach the drains as quick as possible and the second is to provide a stable base to carry the weight your arena is subjected to.

Riding arena Membranes or grid systems are an important part of your arena construction. The first membrane goes on the sub base before the stone and is typically a woven membrane.The second membrane should be a non woven membrane and is used to separate the arena surface from the stone base layer, this should be glued together to stop sand working between the membrane overlaps. It should also be a suitably strong equestrian  membrane typically 450gsm+ depending on usage. 

The surface you choose has to suit your horse riding demands and how you want it to perform. Choosing the right equestrian silica sand will ensure you have a good footing and that it drains well. Choosing the right surface mix for your discipline whether its a silica sand and fibre surface, silica sand and rubber surface, waxed surface or non waxed surface, the riding surface you choose will need to ensure you have the right grip, shock absorption and support to give the rider total confidence in their abilities.