For many equestrians, no arena is complete without a set of safely constructed horse jumps ready to be set up. From grand prix jumpers to green horses still learning to move with even, powerful strides, horses at all levels (and their riders) benefit enormously from schooling over jumps.
Topics: Arena Construction, jumpers
Fieldstone Show Park gets its 2014 summer series underway with 4-star and AA rated USEF competitions. Fieldstone’s event lineup includes the Fieldstone Spring Festival, Fieldstone Equitation Show, Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper, FSP Equitation and Summer Showcase. The professionals at East-West Arena Construction are refurbishing six of the arenas at Fieldstone to ensure the best footing for all the performance horses and riders.
Topics: Arena Construction
Grading is a term used in earthwork construction that means the task of establishing a level base or one with a specified slope. Grading is completed to establish a level base for a building foundation, base course for a road, rail or runway or landscape and garden improvements. The grading process includes using excavators and bulldozers to roughly prepare the area and then a grader to complete the finish grade.
Topics: laser grading
Getting serious about making your facility dressage-friendly comes with some important decisions about dressage arena layout. There are several elements to a professional-grade dressage arena, and the needs of the riders who will be using the arena will determine how these elements look at your facility.
Topics: Arena Construction, Dressage
When sharing a warm-up arena for group riding lessons, testing or show situations, following 5 tips for equestrian arena etiquette is essential for the safety of riders and horses. Each venue has its own rules and regulations but following basic arena etiquette goes a long way to eliminate riding stress. Knowing what is acceptable in the arena and acting in a courteous manner will bring credit to you and equestrian sports.
Building an equestrian arena is a dream come true for horse enthusiasts and having the ability to use the arena at night is a bonus. Planning the equestrian arena lighting for night time use is an important component in the overall planning and design of the arena. It is important a lighting and electrical specialist be involved with the design of the arena. The lighting specialist should be well versed with the electrical code and high power voltage.
Topics: Arena Lighting
Dressage, a highly skilled equestrian sport is often referred to as ‘Horse Ballet.’ Horse and rider form a balanced team that demonstrates strength and accuracy in performing a series of movements. When you see competitive dressage, it appears that the horse and rider can read each other’s minds when they perform extraordinary movements and pace, such as the pirouette, schaukel , flying changes and piaffe. These impressive movements can be performed in arenas with small or standard dressage arena dimensions.
Small and Standard Dressage Arena Dimensions
Small dressage arenas, often used for amateur or low-level dressage competitions, are 20-meters wide by 40-meters long (66 feet by 131 feet). All the basic dressage movements and gaits can be practiced in a small dressage arena but advance figures and jumps require a standard dressage arena of 20 meters by 60 meters (66 feet by 197 feet). The standard dressage arena dimensions allow for competing in dressage, as well as eventing, such as, show jumping, cavalry testing and cross-country.
Caption: GGT footing for small and standard dressage arenas guarantees the proper stabilization and cushioning needed for the high impact and elaborate footwork of dressage testing.
GGT Footing Blends for Indoor and Outdoor Dressage Arenas
Surface selection is of utmost importance in both small and standard dressage arenas. Dressage requires the horse and rider to perform spectacular movements with the horse seeming to float effortlessly around the arena. Although these extended gaits and lateral movements appear effortless, they require strength, stamina, traction and reliable footing. Dressage arenas need quality footing to ensure the safety and sure footing that horse and rider require for optimum performance.
GGT footing for small and standard dressage arenas guarantees the proper stabilization and cushioning needed for the high impact and elaborate footwork of dressage testing. This sand and fiber blended footing absorbs the weight of the horse and adds to the stability of the ride. GGT footing also retains moisture and resists compacting for competition dress arenas that need a quality surface for all the competitors.
Contact us, the footing experts at East-West Arena Construction for information on the best surface footing for your arena. Our footings are meticulously selected for each arena and designed with a blend of sand and fibers for achieving your dressage arena goals.
Topics: Arena Construction
Dust in arenas is potentially hazardous to both equestrians and horses. How to keep dust down in arena surfaces should be a concern of all equestrian facilities. University equestrian team facilities and horse show venues should be aware of the respiratory health hazards from dust, especially when an audience is present. Exposure from arena dust can cause bronchitis, lung disease, Farmer’s lung, asthma and other respiratory conditions. Visitors to the facility who suffer from respiratory problems are especially susceptible to adverse reactions to arena dust. Dust is especially harmful for equestrian trainers and instructors who spend several hours each day in the arena.
Topics: Reducing Dust
Every aspect of an Equestrian program requires an investment of capital, planning and expertise. The most crucial aspect is specifically in the arena. Equestrian arena construction and consulting requires a broad breadth of experience and knowledge, yet also the capacity to focus on the impact of the local area and specific program for which it is being constructed.
Topics: Arena Construction, Footing
