East-West Arena Construction Blog

A number of factors come into play when planning an arena surface, including material availability, budget and arena use. The basic need is for an arena surface that is cushioned to reduce harm to horse legs, yet at the same time, the floor needs to be firm enough to allow for traction and reduce chances of unintended sliding. 

Because riding arena surfaces are frequently watered down to help control dust and provide a compact flooring surface, arena environments are typically humid. This humid environment brings with it a number of risks to both human and horse health.

Whether you have an indoor or an outdoor arena, proper maintenance ensures that the footing in your arena remains flexible and ready to absorb the impact of horses' hooves during training or events. Maintenance also keeps flies down by removing manure, and keeps dust to a minimum. Depending on whether you have an indoor or an outdoor arena, and the amount of traffic it receives, you may need to perform these tasks weekly or monthly.

Constructing the right sized arena, whether it's indoors or outdoors is one of the first questions most people ask.  Like most things in the equestrian world, there is no singular right answer.  The size area that works best for you isn't necessarily the size arena that works for everyone.  Arena construction should be highly customized to the needs of the customer. 

If you're considering building or improving an existing jumping arena, it's important to choose high-quality footing that provides both traction and impact resistance.  The sport of show jumping poses several challenges for athletes. Good footing for jumping arenas must take into account the bio-mechanics of the sport yet provide a surface that's easy to groom and maintain, especially in professional arenas and training facilities that see plenty of use. Fortunately, newer products on the market offer horses and riders greater comfort while offering farm and facilities managers less work.