When someone says they’re an equestrian or they ride horses, non-horse people usually think of cowboys in the mountains, or whatever form of the sport they’ve been most exposed to. But the real horse people know the term “equestrian” encompasses a variety of disciplines including show jumping, dressage, team roping, and trail riding. 

At Longwood Arenas, the differences between these disciplines are always taken into consideration when building a top-notch arena. The type of riding you do, how often you do it, how many horses you work a day, and the level you train at all affect the specific needs for your arena! 

Depending on what discipline you plan to use your arena for primarily, there are three core elements to consider when consulting with a builder. 

1. What do you need to consider when creating your base?

The base of your arena is incredibly important, like, literally the foundation for its success. The structure of your base and its thickness will depend on the type of sport you will mostly be practicing. Someone who will be using their arena for flatwork, pleasure-riding purposes, or for a few horses, will not need as substantial of a base as someone who will be repeatedly jumping and landing in a concussive manner on it throughout the day. 

The main elements of your base will be your retaining boards, drainage pipes if you choose to have them, rock layer that will allow for consistency and water drainage, and the clay element that will go on top. 

2. How much sand do you need?

The next thing to consider is how much sand is necessary and what type. Different consistencies of sand are important to determine depending on what area you live in and what the weather elements are. The amount of sand you use will also depend on whether we are adding fibers or not. A sand/fiber mix is best for drainage and easy maintenance on an arena that will be used more frequently or for more intense work; however, an all-sand arena could be a great alternative if looking for a more cost-effective option. 

3. What type of fiber should be mixed in, if any? 

The last issue of your arena footing to determine is fiber. Fiber is not necessary in every ring we install but it is a key part of our all-weather footing and our GGT- premium arenas that are typically installed for horses competing at the upper level of their sport. The fibers we use are produced strictly by GGT - boasting the best binding agents for cushion, support, and drainage.  

Other things to consider when building are how much land will need to be cleared to build, the type of terrain you are building on, and what size arena you require for your usage.  Check out this blog post about the area around your arena.

Everyone’s arena needs are different, give us a call and we can figure out the best arena type for you.

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Contact us for more info!

Email: Joe@Longwoodarenas.com

Call or Text: (352) 804-0268