Building A Horse Arena

By Author: Meisel Rock
Total Articles: 1
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If you have never done it, then you would probably think that building a horse arena is a simple and straightforward project; however, that is not the case. The most important aspect of constructing a horse arena is figuring out what materials to use for the surface. Using the wrong material can result in a surface that will erode in a short period of time.

Before you select which materials to use for your horse arena surface, you must address the problem of drainage, especially in Oregon where there is a ton of rainfall. Without proper drainage, water will pool on the surface of your horse arena and will lead to it having a much shorter lifespan. If you can build one on high ground, then you essentially eliminate the drainage problem.

After you have figured out an effective drainage system, you can focus on the all-important base materials. Even for a relatively small horse arena, you are going to need a massive quantity of base material. First, you want to make sure you have a layer of clay at the very base. Next, you want to add about 100mm of gravel and sand mixture. Compact it down as much as possible, and ...
... then add a similar amount of lime and compact it as well. On top of that you add a small amount of crusher dust and add your top layer. The top layer will only work if it has a solid, nicely compacted base to go on top of.

Choosing the top layer for your horse arena surface can be the most challenging part of the process. If you choose too hard of a material, then you certainly won’t want to fall off your horse onto it. However, if the material is too soft, then it will most likely erode away after not much usage and can actually be harder on your horse’s muscles and tendons than a hard surface. There is a huge selection of surface materials out there, and the one you choose for your horse arena depends on what region you are in. Sand is a common material used in horse arenas, but sand differs greatly by region. Sand in one part of the country may work great, while sand from another may be too soft. You can also add materials to sand to create a better surface, such as rubber. Very fine gravel is another popular horse arena surface material, but once again the type of gravel varies by region. One type of gravel that works for a horse arena in Texas may not work with a horse arena in Oregon.

Another important thing to consider when preparing to build a horse arena is how far away the materials you will be using are from your arena. It is often more expensive to have the materials trucked in then it is to purchase the material itself, so choosing materials closer will save you a lot of money in transportation costs. Meisel Rock Products is an Oregon company that specializes in providing Oregon horse arena rocks, as well as Oregon landscaping rocks. They own and operate several quarries located conveniently throughout the state, and all of the quarries are licensed and ODOT compliant.

Meisel Rock writes for Meisel Rock Products, provider of Oregon horse arena rocks.