September 2017 THE HORSE TheHorse.com
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landscaping around your arena. Choose
nontoxic plants, and avoid tall grasses
that might tempt your horse to reach over
the fence for snacks.
What Fencing or Barrier is Best?
A fence isn't always necessary for an
arena, but it does offer another level of
safety for horses and rider—that is, if it's
a fence built with safety in mind. "No
wire, cable, tape, or anything the horse
can get tangled in," says Watts.
Here are some additional safety
considerations:
■ Horses run into fences. Make sure yours
is solid and secure. Pipe panels, for
example, are easy to assemble, but you
must secure them to solid corner and
intermittent posts to stabilize the fence.
■ Horses kick fences. Yes, your horse is
usually an angel, but it's not unusual
for horses to occasionally kick out as
the rider applies leg. When they do
kick, they hit the fence. This is another
reason to avoid using wire as an arena
barrier; use plank, PVC, or pipe fencing
to keep your horses safe.
■ T-posts are sharp and not appropriate
for arena fencing.
■ Your horse, his tack, or your leg can get
caught on bolts and latches, so place
hardware on the outside of the fence.
Take-Home Message
Installing an outdoor arena is a
major financial investment in your
horse property. Look for an experienced
excavation contractor and, if neces-
sary, hire engineers to evaluate your soil
stability, perform compaction testing,
and design drainage. When properly
designed, installed, and maintained, your
outdoor arena will support your horse's
biomechanics properly, provide a safely
enclosed area to school, and offer years of
riding enjoyment.
h
ARND
BRONKHORST
Horse-friendly trees and shrubs around your arena
act as natural dust- and windbreaks.
BUILT STRONGER.
LOOKS BETTER. LASTS LONGER.
RESIDENTIAL | FARM | EQUESTRIAN | COMMERCIAL | COMMUNITY | REPAIRS
When you build with Morton, you build something that lasts.
A Morton stands the test of time—we've been at this for more
than 110 years after all. What got us here is simple: our
materials, our people and a warranty that beats all others.
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