How To Design Your Own Home Equestrian Arena

Even if you are staying home more, you still want to be able to ride your horses. The right home arena can help you train for upcoming shows and general exercise. There is a lot of planning ad work involved in making a great arena, though. Following a few basic steps can get you back in the saddle in no time at all.

Plan Your Layout

There is a lot more to designing an arena that picking out the best horse jump cups. Before you ever pick up a shovel, you will need to get planning. Decide what features you want in your riding space and work to fit them into the plan and your budget. A detailed plan will help you steer clear of pitfalls throughout the construction process. There are several factors you will need to consider as far as your arena’s layout. Size, location, and shape are the big ones.

Start by looking at your property. The space you have available may narrow down your planning considerably. You’ll need an area that is relatively flat, or that can be made flat without too much modification. Minor gradin his fine, but you probably don’t want to be adding retaining walls.

Most rising spaces are rectangular in shape. They should be long enough to gain the speed you want and wide enough to accommodate turns at the ends, so be sure to check out appropriate sizes for riding arenas. You’ll want to have enough space to make riding comfortable for you and your horse, which will depend on the disciplines you ride in.

Choose the Right Surface Materials

You cannot simply use open ground for training purposes. Sticks, stones and debris can cause serious injuries for horses. Soft spots and holes can lead to puddles that will make riding a full course difficult at best. Look for base and surface materials that allow secure footing and adequate drainage. They should absorb the shock of hoof impacts without giving too much or feeling springy. A few common choices are sand, pulverized stone and rubber mulch.

Secure the Perimeter

Once you have the ground completed, install a perimeter fencing system. Most equestrian arenas use wooden or PVC fencing to accomplish this. It is sturdy enough to take jostling from riders and horses, and also quite attractive. You also have th option of constructing a building to accommodate riding in all weather conditions. This is a nice option for colder or wet climates. Once you have your area set up, you are ready to pick out the equipment and training aids that will make your riding more effective and enjoyable.

A home riding arena gives you extra opportunities to spend quality training time with your horses. With careful planning, you can install one yourself.