East-West Arena Construction Blog

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.

Riding in a Grand Prix ring can be a thrilling experience, especially for amateur or junior riders. However, as the title of this post suggests, not all Grand Prix rings are created equal. Arena size, footing, shape, grandstand layout, and the associated warm-up ring are all contributing factors, which make some Grand Prix rings amazing, while others leave much to be desired. If you are a barn manager or a horse show director, then be sure to take the following design characteristics into account before you lay the foundation for a new Grand Prix arena.

Is a dried-out, hard riding arena causing you a case of the winter riding blues? With ground freezing temperatures blanketing the Northwest, Northeast, and Midwest regions watering the ring can be a tricky process. Under-watered rings can result in dried-out, tightly compacted, and hard footing. Lucky for you, we have a few winter watering tips for maintaining the perfect ground conditions for your GGT footing.

An arena's footing is critical, whether used for shows, training or recreation. Determining the best footing for an arena is not always an easy task. Here are five things to consider when planning arena footing:

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.

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.