The Horse

SEP 2017

The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.

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September 2017 THE HORSE TheHorse.com 45 horses three times a week are different, and usually less expensive to install, than a boarding and training facility arena that easily sees 30 or more rides per day. These will also affect long-term mainte- nance costs. Sand particles break down due to hoof concussion, Fabian says. More horse traffic means you'll have to refresh your footing more often and even repair your arena base at some point. Your riding discipline affects both your footing choice and depth (more on foot- ing in a bit), as well as your arena size. For example, if your primary discipline is dressage, you'll likely need footing that's 2 inches deep, whereas if you focus on jumping or reining, you will need more depth. With a dressage arena you need to accommodate a training or full court (a 20-by-40 or 20-by-60-meter area, respec- tively), but for an arena for jumping or cow work, you'll need at least a 100-by- 200-foot area. Fabian recommends a 150-by-300 space for a roping arena. The bigger the arena, the more versatile it is. Note: If you plan to host recognized competitions, check with your sports sanctioning organization for arena size and fencing requirements. Beyond the usable arena area, Fabian recommends a 2- to 20-foot shoulder beyond the perimeter that isn't ridden on. Picture how asphalt cracks and crumbles on narrow, shoulderless country roads. "That's what happens to the edge of your arena if there isn't a shoulder outside where you ride," she says. "If the arena ends at the fence, and your horse is trot- ting along the edge, it's going to reduce the longevity of the base and potentially the integrity of the entire arena." Who's on Your Design and Construction Team? Do you want a relatively easy, hands-off arena installation experience? Then you'll want to hire a general contractor with arena experience to manage the project, estimate costs, and schedule subcontrac- tors, such as the excavators, engineers, electricians, and fence builders. You'll pay for that service and experience, but you'll also potentially avoid costly mistakes and get your arena done faster. If you can't find a contractor that spe- cializes in arenas, Fabian recommends finding an excavating contractor with road-building experience. "An arena is basically a road without the asphalt on it," she says. "Like a road, it's a prepared subbase and a compacted base on top of that, but instead of asphalt it's topped with footing." She notes a road builder likely won't know about arena footing, so seek footing advice from suppliers or other barn owners. Depending on how large your arena is and how difficult your existing conditions are, you might need engineering, as well. This can include a geotechnical engineer to sample soils and test compaction and civil engineers to design drainage systems and retaining walls. "As the amount of use the arena will get increases, so does cost, and engineer- ing becomes more critical," Fabian says. "Mistakes made early are hard to fix. If, for example, the base and subbase are done wrong, the entire arena will need to be re-excavated to fix it." What's the Best Arena Location? Depending on how much land you have, you might or might not have many options when it comes selecting an arena site. Location, however, will play a vital role in your arena cost, Fabian says. Remember you need enough square foot- age for the arena, as well as the shoulder we already mentioned. Also, keep the following in mind: ■ Excavation will increase your overall arena costs substantially. Do you have to pull out trees or cut into a hill? Add hundreds of dollars to the bill. Does cut- ting into that hill create a bank? Now you likely need the engineer to design a retaining wall. Hitting rock during excavation will also drive up costs. ■ You will need to drag and work your footing, which means you need a tractor access path. If you don't have a tractor or ATV and implements suitable for working an arena, add those to your budget. Not working an arena properly will destroy your footing and base. ■ Contractors, subcontractors, and delivery trucks will need access to your arena. Footing comes in big dump trucks or on large trailers, so drivers require room to maneuver and turn around. And this isn't a one-time deal— at some point your arena footing will need refreshing, so don't block access once the ring is built. ■ Build away from where horses and people live. Even with the best footing and dust control measures, arenas still produce dust. That dust will not only find its way into your house but also harm human and horse lungs. You'll also want to locate your arena in an area that won't collect standing water, which leads us to … Is Drainage an Issue? Wet climates, poorly draining clay soils, and topography can create drainage 2-20-foot shoulder Fence rail (optional) Footing Add 2-4 inches of well-drained footing. Subbase Native soil that has been leveled and compacted to support the base. Base This 4-6-inch layer supports the arena footing and is typically made from highly compacted angular aggregate gravel, which allows water to drain. Arena Construction Landscape fabric This optional layer between the subbase and base helps hold soil in place and pre- vent weeds from growing. 1.5-2% Grade Mistakes made early are hard to fix. If, for example, the base and subbase are done wrong, the entire arena will need to be re- excavated to fix it." DR. EILEEN FABIAN

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