So you are thinking of building an outdoor riding arena? That’s awesome! Riding outdoors can be an excellent opportunity to enjoy the weather and give your horse a more natural working setting. Unfortunately, building your arena can sometimes be headache-inducing. With so many size and material options available, it can be hard to make a decision.
That’s why, in this article, I wanted to share some of the costs and considerations we made when constructing a 60’x120′ outdoor riding arena!
Preparing Your Arena Site
Before you can even think of building your fencing or laying your footing, you need to prep your arena site! Prepping arena sites typically involves using an excavator or other heavy equipment to scrape the surface down a few inches (depending on the depth of your footing).
Excavation will also slope the area for proper drainage as well as make sure the site is level and smooth. If you do not already own excavation equipment, you will have to rent or hire a professional to complete this work for you (our route). Many websites and contractors provide free estimates to allow you to budget these costs.
Another thing to consider when deciding on your arena’s location is the amount of shade available. Are there already trees near the site that will provide shade throughout or at some parts of the day? Are you planning on covering the arena with a roof? Shade is what will help make your outdoor arena more comfortable and you more likely to use it, so it’s definitely important to consider.
PRO TIP: If you want to have the best defense against weeds, consider laying down a geotextile fabric to prevent them from coming up in the first place.
Fencing Material
From wood to vinyl, electric tape to composite, there are tons of fencing options these days! You will want to consider what material you will want your fence to be comprised of so that you can begin to estimate the cost.
Some arenas can be fenced with something as simple as electric fence tape or cord (cheapest option) or as extravagant as composite wood (often the most expensive option). Personally, we decided to go with the classic look of a wood board and post fence.
Depending on the size of your planned arena, you will want to calculate the amount of material needed as well as any accessories or extra tools that may be necessary. For example, we paid about $1500 for the boards and posts to construct our arena.
Remember, just like with possible excavation costs, if you aren’t planning on putting up the fencing yourself, you’ll need to hire somebody.
PRO TIP: We opted to add a grade board along the entire bottom edge of the arena to keep our footing in place (kind of like a big sandbox!).
Gates
Just like the multitude of fencing options available, there are also a bunch of gate options! Typical choices can include metal pipe gates, chain link, wooden gates or sometime no gate at all!
Although the type of gate you choose is less important, it is key to determine the width of the gate you will need. The gate should be wide enough to allow horses and people to pass through comfortably as well as any equipment that you will be bringing into the arena.
You also want to be sure that the gates are not too heavy or clunky to open as this can be annoying and even dangerous in certain situations.
Arena Footing
One of the most important things to invest the proper funds into when building an outdoor riding arena is the footing. We went through a lot of resources trying to determine what footing to purchase.
After weighing in use factors and cost, we opted for a washed mason sand. This type of sand has very small rock pieces and packs very well when watered.
Of course, don’t forget to not only budget for the cost of the sand, but also any additional trucking or leveling fees that you may incur upon delivery.
Arena Maintenance Equipment
After spending all that money on footing, you’ll want to maintain it! You will need to consider things like weed control, dragging, and watering your arena.
Weed control is key to keeping your arena looking fresh and tidy. In our case, we built next to a tree that likes to shed a bunch of junk onto our arena (and thus grow some weeds). We opted to hand-pull a lot of the weeds that were growing along the edge and spray any stragglers that came up with a horse-safe herbicide.
Dragging your arena can sometimes seem tedious but is a huge part of arena maintenance. you’ll want to invest in a new or quality used drag or harrow to keep that arena surface smooth and prepped for work.
Watering is one of the best things you can do for your outdoor arena. Not only does it keep dust down, but it also shores up loose footing for a safer working surface for you and your horses.
Thank you so much for reading some of the important costs to consider when building an outdoor riding arena. Let me know if anything in this post surprised you! I’d love to hear from you.
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