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Thinking of building an indoor riding arena? There are several factors you must consider when building one. After all, an indoor riding arena is a massive undertaking, and you must get it right if it’s to serve you for years to come.
Purpose of an Indoor Riding Arena
While the initial cost of an indoor riding arena can be massive, the returns on your investment are well worth it. That’s because an indoor riding arena offers your trainers and horses a safe and controlled environment to train and ride throughout the year. This is important, as both your riders and horses need such a consistent environment to ensure they are in optimum shape throughout the year.
Another significant purpose of an indoor riding arena is to offer an environment free from external distractions.
So, how do you ensure you build an indoor riding arena that’s perfect for your horses and trainers? You must include the right accessories.
Must-Have Accessories for an Indoor Riding Arena
To get the most out of your indoor riding arena, you must pay close attention to the accessories you include. Here are some of the essential accessories you need to consider:
Safety Walls
One essential indoor riding arena accessory you must have is a safety wall. Safety walls protect both horse and rider, as they address many indoor riding arena safety concerns.
For example: A rider’s leg can get crushed when a horse brushes against the walls. A safety wall mitigates this, as the angle of the arena kick wall is designed to push the horse away from the wall. This protects the rider’s legs.
Another safety concern with indoor riding arenas is the danger of a horse injuring itself from a strikeout or kicking the wall. Again, the angle of the arena fence prevents that from happening.
A safety wall also helps prevent sand build-up near the wall.
Arena Irrigation Systems
One of the most important components of an indoor riding arena is a Rain Train Arena Irrigation System. Using an irrigation system helps to create a dust-free environment, which is very important for the health and safety of your horse and any riders.
Eliminating dust from your indoor arena will improve the air quality and visibility. Furthermore, it also helps to keep your footing at the right consistency, which is essential for preventing injuries. Unstable footing from loose dust and sand could lead to dangerous conditions. Spraying down the area with an irrigation system ensures that your horse has perfect footing, comfort, and visibility.
Mounting Products
An accessory that every indoor riding arena needs is a mounting block. This is helpful for riders and benefits your horse, as it reduces the pressure put on the spinal column when mounting.
Another reason ground mounting should be discouraged is that it can lead to a damaged saddle and stirrups.
Horse Exercisers
To ensure that your horse gets the best exercise possible when the weather is not permitting, you must include some horse exercisers in your indoor riding arena. With horse exercisers, you can walk, trot, or lope your horse without having to take it outside. You can also set different speed levels on your exerciser, allowing you to give your horse his regular training exercises.
Important Design Elements to Consider for Your Indoor Riding Arena
Besides accessories, you must also pay close attention to the design of your indoor riding arena. A few important factors you must consider are:
Dimensions
When designing your indoor arena, pay close attention to its dimensions. As a general rule of thumb:
- The minimum width must be sixty feet long. Otherwise, the average width is 70-80 feet.
- The length of your arena will depend mostly on your discipline and the activities you’ll want to use it for. However, most indoor riding arenas fall within the 120- to 250-feet range.
- The standard interior height is 16′ to 18′ to the top of the trusses.
Door Placement
Another important design element you must carefully consider as you build or renovate your indoor riding arena is door placement.
Of course, due to the massive size of the building, your doors will also be huge, and therein lies the danger. Doors of this size can become a safety hazard, especially during windy seasons. That’s why they must be positioned in the right place. You must always place your doors:
- In the gable end of the building
- Away from prevailing winds
Doing so will make them safer, as they won’t be affected by the wind.
Exit Doors
If you plan on using your indoor riding arena for public or commercial purposes, your design must feature exit doors on every wall.
Lighting
Lighting plays a critical role in an indoor riding arena. Make sure to use as much natural light as possible. As for the artificial lighting, ensure it doesn’t cast shadows or cause glare.
Need Help with Your Indoor Riding Arena Accessories?
If you need help with your indoor riding arena accessories, don’t hesitate to browse our product catalog. Alternatively, give us a call at (352) 737-6743. We’d be more than happy to help.