Horse Arenas – An Introduction
An arena is where horses are worked and trained. They come in two basic kinds: covered and uncovered.
This subject is mostly images of arenas I have seen in my travels. Some are majestic and some are bare bones. There is something that can be learned from each and applied to an arena you are planning to build.
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Horse Arenas – Covered
Covered arenas are made to shelter the horse and rider from weather and strong sunlight. They can be built with 4 enclosing walls, with one side permanently open with a half wall, with sides or half walls that can open and close or with no walls at all. Irrigation systems can be hung from the ceiling for dust control. Fans can help with ventilation. Music and PA systems can be installed. They can be attached directly to the barn or separate from the barn with or without a covered walkway. They can be made with wood or steel trusses and some of the wood can be basic trusses or laminated boards. All are rectangular in my experience. The width is dependent on the materials used and the anticipated roof load with the additional weight of snow collapsing many covered arenas. Footing can range from dirt to sand to special mixes laid in layers.
This gallery displays many of the covered arenas for your imagination to explore. Grab a cup of coffee, darken the room, grab a pen and paper to write notes, and sit back and enjoy.
Horse Arenas – Uncovered
Uncovered arenas are easier to build and less expensive. Their use in harsh climates is limited. The footing material and how it is constructed is the elaborate and costly part. Good drainage is imperative and is often overlooked due to the added cost. A poorly drained arena is useless and may cause injury to the horses being trained on it. Water cannons or moving sprinklers help keep the dust down in the dry season.
This gallery displays many of the uncovered arenas for your imagination to explore. Grab a cup of coffee, darken the room, grab a pen and paper to write notes, and sit back and enjoy.
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