East-West Arena Construction Blog

The riding arena is the single most important asset in which a horse owner or equestrian facility will invest.  Whether it is an indoor or outdoor, the most important component of that arena is the footing.  

The arena itself can be as simple as a designated area sans fencing behind the barn, or as elaborate as a mirrored-wall, wainscoted, climate-controlled indoor facility with natural lighting, and acoustically perfect sound system, an observation deck and lounge areas.  Regardless the comfort level of the rider that the various buildings provide, without proper footing, the facility is pointless, from the horse's point of view.

You have heard it said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.This maxim holds true for horses as well as for people. Whether your journey includes hunting, jumping, eventing, barrel racing, or dressage, it is a journey that you and your horse will undertake together.

Building any college equestrian arena will have its own set of unique variables to take into account. Whether your school's equestrian curriculum involves a few special events and practices, or hosts major competitive events, you need to use an arena builder who can assess and understand your specific needs based on the location of the arena.

Trick riders wow people with their dazzling acts, performing stunts such as hanging from a galloping horse by one foot or performing the splits upside down while in a saddle. Stunts such as these take years of hard work and training in order to perfect, as many who work in this industry will gladly attest.

In many sports, being able to get good footing and traction can affect results. The quality of the field has an impact. Football players will wear different cleats if the field is grass or AstroTurf. Runners used to runon clay, cinder, dirt, sand or grass, which is easier on the body. More modern surfaces include a combination of asphalt and rubber, all-weather tracks which uses latex or rubber surfaces, and polyurethane, all with different effects requiring different equipment.

Over the past 10 to 15 years, the English equestrian sport has adapted an old Western training tactic: training horses using a round pen. The round pen offers fantastic training opportunities for both young and old horses. Are you interested in learning why your next arena construction project should be a round pen? Check out the following top round pen training techniques. 

Arena construction is an exciting time for any type of barn. It offers the promise of a new ring complete with new footing and a revitalized look for the entire barn. If horses could talk, they would surely be neighing in support of any arena construction project. But before you get the excavator or backhoe out, be sure to avoid making any of the following costly mistakes.

No matter where we live, we have all seen the negative effects of a rain storm on a poorly constructed arena. An arena's drainage system is the lifeline needed when rain strikes. Poor drainage systems can result in sloppy, slippery, and loose footing. Improper arena draining systems can also cause pools of water to form in your ring or worse a bog!

The beauty of a perfictly manicured grass arena or derby field can set the stage for a great ride.  Here, we explore the pros and cons of an outdoor grass riding arena.

Indoor arenas with mirrors have long been used in aid in the rider/horse connection during training.  Many dressage, hunter, and jumper barns are employing this tactic. While mirrors offer a number of training benefits, they do also come with a few disadvantages.