East-West Arena Construction Blog

Today’s riders and trainers are more aware of the importance of high-quality arena footing for the safety of horses’ joints, legs and feet. Horse owners, universities and equestrian event facilities install premium footing in their indoor and outdoor show arenas and warm-up rings for maximizing performance and safety. Although premium footings, such as GTX blends are long lasting, maintaining the footing with an arena groomer can extend arena life even further.

Located within an hour’s drive from Boston, the majestic White Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, the University of New Hampshire offers a classic New England atmosphere for its students. The equestrian teams especially enjoy the scenic, panoramic mountain views as they ride the incredible cross-country course. The UNH equestrian facilities offer horse boarding, expert competition training and top-notch indoor and outdoor arenas.

High-quality sod has often been said to be the perfect horse footing. It provides a stable, cushioned landing for the foot, doesn't shift underfoot, provides good traction, and is not dusty. However, sod does not stand up to the demands of a busy riding arena, and therefore equestrians have been creating alternatives to sod.

The size of a dressage arena is laid out in the rules- a standard ring is 20 by 60 meters. Of course this measurement doesn't include the "track" around the outside of the riding area, nor does it include space for the judge to sit, so the actual size of a standard dressage arena is probably closer to 22 by 65 meters. 

Mount Holyoke College is located in the scenic Pioneer Valley in South Hadley, Massachusetts. This incredible western MA town features a breathtaking view of the Connecticut River and Bare Mountain, a prominent peak of the Holyoke Mountain range. When you add the Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, one of the top competitive equestrian facilities anywhere, to this gorgeous town, you have every girl’s dream college. Mount Holyoke is a girl’s college that offers an unrivaled education, along with championship riding teams.

What better setting for Centenary College and its Equestrian facility than surrounded by the Kittatinny Mountains in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The town is the home to Victorian homes over one century old, antique shops and charming bed and breakfast inns. The college fits right in with the Hackettstown community with an historic administration building in Victorian style.

А dusty horse arena іs unpleasant fоr riders, trainers, horses, аnd spectators alike. Νоt оnlу thаt, but frequent exposure tо dust mау pose sіgnіfісаnt health risks fоr уоu аnd уоur horse, аs well аs compromise hіs performance.

An excellent idea is to have an indoor riding arena for the comfort of the horses as well as the humans who are involved in their care. Such a versatile and durable arena can be professionally designed and constructed or refurbished according to your individual desires and budget.

The beauty of a round-pen is it's versatility. From being used simply as a secure area for turn-out to teaching new (and old) riders how to find their seat round-pens have proven an indispensable tool for all horse facilities.

There's something romantic about hearing the clippity-clop of horseshoes hitting the cement aisle in early in the morning. It brings visions of a simpler time when horses were ridden down cobblestone streets and Sunday picnics were the norm. But if you could ask your horse how he feels about walking on slippery cement you might rethink your choice in barn aisle material.