If you are thinking of building an equestrian arena, here are the top 5 missteps to avoid in the construction of outdoor horse arena footing:
- Choosing the wrong type, or using the wrong amount of stone.
A hard, angular stone should be used for the base layer. Granite or a hard limestone are good choices. Hard stones are frost resistant, meaning they will remain strong winter after winter, and they'll resist breaking under the weight of maintenance equipment.
- Inadequate drainage.
If the ground is hard or heavy clay, additional drain lines of larger diameters are needed. The tops of the trenches should be covered with a membrane which will allow water to pass through, but will prevent the passage of sediment.
- Weak fencing posts.
Fencing posts should always be supported in concrete. They need to be strong enough to withstand accidental impacts from maintenance machinery.
- Construction scheduled at the wrong time of year, or without consideration for ground conditions.
The best time for construction is during a dry season, preferably summer. Clay is a material that requires particular attention. When clay is wet and under pressure, it can buckle and bubble, causing surface contamination and inhibit drainage.
- Incorrect cut and fill
This is the method of cutting into a bank of earth, and then re-laying the material down in the bank in order to create a “level formation” for the horse arena. These new banks must be built correctly to support the newly created formation.
If you are having an outdoor horse arena built, or you have any questions about your present arena, simply contact us and we'll be glad to help.
