Posted 2007-02-25 1:54 PM (#56272) Subject: Indoor Riding Area
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Virginia
so, we have an outside riding arena with all weather footing and what not but my wife wants to have an indoor place to work out of the rain and cold. I have a 50' x 50' Butler Farmsted free span building that i am using as my garage. It has a half concrete floor with the other half being dirt. What do ya'll think about using something like that as an indoor riding space (glorified round pen).
She doesn't want to rip up the concrete but i told her that it would be silly to put dirt on top of it. I was thinking breaking up the concrete and then trucking in some sand to put in there.
Posted 2007-02-25 2:46 PM (#56274 - in reply to #56272) Subject: RE: Indoor Riding Area
Regular
Posts: 92 Location: iowa
Wow, I would die for a free span building like that. Hate to tear out the concrete, but probably not much other options really, unless your tear out the concrete, get it crushed and put it back in your paddocks for mud control, will also help with hoof development if you are barefoot.
What will you use for a garage? Or can you add on the the building?
Good luck, sounds like work and you without a garage.
Posted 2007-02-25 3:20 PM (#56276 - in reply to #56272) Subject: RE: Indoor Riding Area
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Virginia
for a garage/storage area i have a 20' x 30' that needs to be cleaned out of some of the junk the previous owners left in there. Do some siding work and some electrical work, put a front on it and i'm in business with a new workshop area.
Posted 2007-02-25 6:21 PM (#56282 - in reply to #56272) Subject: RE: Indoor Riding Area
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
A 50x50 is not very large. She won't be able to do much and will risk injuring hocks from doing small circles a lot. If it were me, which it isn't, I would rethink this.
Posted 2007-02-25 9:02 PM (#56289 - in reply to #56272) Subject: RE: Indoor Riding Area
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Virginia
we train western pleasure horses and a large area is not that big of deal. We have thought this through and are actually going to extend it another 30 or 40 feet. This way there is more space in case she has more than one person working at a time. I trust her judgement and she would never put a horse in danger, their hocks especially since messed up hocks are not good for show horses.
check out our website www.riversbendperformancehorses.com
Posted 2007-02-26 8:10 AM (#56304 - in reply to #56272) Subject: RE: Indoor Riding Area
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
I've been in smaller covered arenas and you can't get much accomplished but long-line work in bad weather. 50'x50' isn't even a round-pen.
80'x120' arenas aren't that costly if you get them from the right company. Some companies offer sales on their websites of barns that were ordered but people couldn't pay, or they were the wrong colors, or people changed the order, etc.
So, I'd just figure out what size you want and have them compete for your business! You'll find out that you'll need some more room than 50' square once people realize they can come ride during poor weather, our local arenas charge by the hour for outsiders...it's a great boost to business!
Find a good agricultural accountant and have him depreciate this from your farm taxes...let Uncle Sam pick-up the note on this deal.
Don't bust up the concrete, around Dallas concrete prices have gone up so much that people are leveling houses and keeping the slabs to build on yet again!
Posted 2007-02-26 8:51 AM (#56309 - in reply to #56272) Subject: RE: Indoor Riding Area
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
I have a 40 x 100 indoor arena. Since I ride by myself, it make a great place to work a horse,start youngsters or free longe ( with multiple horses) however, its a bit too narrow. You can get stuff done especially in the winter and muddy spring but I will use the outdoor arena if I can. If I were a real trainer, the arena wouldn't be suitable for lessons and multiple horses working at the sametime.
If I had a 50x50...I'd add at least another 50 to the lenght. Concert must go to get good footing. My next arena will be at least 60ft wide.
Posted 2007-02-26 8:59 AM (#56310 - in reply to #56272) Subject: RE: Indoor Riding Area
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Won't argue with the size of the round pen, arena thing. Your decision on that. But I don't think I would break up and remove the concrete ($117.00 per yard here wet in the mixer). Put about a foot or so, of clay-sand on top of the concrete and tamp it till it's firm. If the indoor arena don't work out, remove the soil and the concrete is still intact.
Posted 2007-02-26 1:13 PM (#56320 - in reply to #56272) Subject: RE: Indoor Riding Area
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Virginia
I agree a 50' by 50' indoor space is not a lot to work with. Something is better than nothing. She is getting ready to break a youngster and i haven't put lights up outside on the ring yet. If she could work inside at night i'd be all for it. She doesn't have a lot time during the day because she teaches so anything i can do to help her out instead of waiting till summer to break one.
I was going to contact one of these prefab barn/building persons to see what they could do about adding on to ours and extending it. I'll keep ya'll up on what happens.
Posted 2007-03-01 1:46 AM (#56544 - in reply to #56304) Subject: RE: Indoor Riding Area
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by huntseat on 2007-02-26 9:10 AM
I've been in smaller covered arenas and you can't get much accomplished but long-line work in bad weather. 50'x50' isn't even a round-pen.
80'x120' arenas aren't that costly if you get them from the right company. Some companies offer sales on their websites of barns that were ordered but people couldn't pay, or they were the wrong colors, or people changed the order, etc.
So, I'd just figure out what size you want and have them compete for your business! You'll find out that you'll need some more room than 50' square once people realize they can come ride during poor weather, our local arenas charge by the hour for outsiders...it's a great boost to business!
Find a good agricultural accountant and have him depreciate this from your farm taxes...let Uncle Sam pick-up the note on this deal.
Don't bust up the concrete, around Dallas concrete prices have gone up so much that people are leveling houses and keeping the slabs to build on yet again!
Olympia is a great outfit... 100 by 220...was about $169,000 delivered...thenthere was site prep, erector fees, and so on...
Indoor Riding Area
