Now that's an arena with a view! A covered arena with open sides means you can enjoy your surroundings.

To enclose or not to enclose – that is the question!

Horse riding has always been considered an outdoor sport, and there’s no doubt that enjoying the great outdoors from the saddle on a glorious day is one of life’s great pleasures! Yet as any rider who regularly exercises their horse in an arena can attest, there are times when the weather can be challenging. At best this can detract from the enjoyment of your ride, and at worst it can impact on your training and schooling plans.

The solution is easy: Put a roof on the arena! For many, this idea may seem like a distant dream. Visions of splendid, fully enclosed European style arenas attached to picture perfect stables and tack rooms are often followed by thoughts such as “I can’t afford that!”

Indeed, the concept of the indoor arena was born in the Northern Hemisphere, where harsh winters and prolonged rain periods necessitated the advent of indoor schools. Whilst our Australian climate is considered milder, scorching hot summers, wild storms and – depending on where you live – bitter winter mornings, mean that the concept of a roof above our heads when we ride our horses is relevant here too, and perhaps more easily achieved than many expect.

Certain sides can be blocked in to protect from the prevailing winds.

A covered rather than fully enclosed arena is an attractive and popular idea for many Australians who are considering options for either their planned or existing arena. Jonny Hornsey, Director of ABC Sheds, shares his top 5 reasons why a fully or partially covered arena is a popular choice:

1)    Cost: A true indoor arena is a major investment; in addition to the construction costs, there are factors such as ventilation, air conditioning and lighting to be considered and these will be greater in a fully enclosed structure. “Generally, a covered arena will also be quite low maintenance once it’s installed, whereas an indoor arena will have more maintenance costs associated with its various elements – not dissimilar to a house!” Jonny explains.

2)    Timing: One major advantage of a covered arena compared to an indoor arena is the option of adding a roof structure once the arena is already built and in use, whereas a true indoor arena is generally built from scratch. Retrofitting a cover to your arena is a worthwhile consideration if you wish to spread the costs of developing your arena over a period of more than one year, or you have purchased a property with an outdoor arena that could benefit from a roof.

3)    Location: Every arena’s geographical location is unique, and this can be captured to your advantage in the design and layout of a covered or partially covered arena. Some people may want to leave one or two sides of the arena completely open in order to catch the morning or afternoon sun, yet enclose the sides most likely to be wind and rain affected. “Knowing your property and your climate is really important when you’re considering a covered arena” Jonny points out. “Not only can it save you money, because you’re not building walls that you don’t really need, it can also mean that you capitalise on the best features of your property and don’t miss out on enjoying these when you’re riding your horse”.

4)    Fresh air: A covered arena may have walls on some sides, however unlike an indoor arena the structure will generally incorporate at least one open side. A design of this type has great benefits for air flow and quality, which is important for the horse and rider’s health. In addition, fresh air is beneficial for odour, dust and moisture control.

5)    The best of both worlds: In a perfect world, all horse properties would have both indoor and outdoor arenas for riders to pick and choose between, depending on the day and the weather! Partially covering an arena to create both “indoor” and outdoor riding spaces is a great option, ensuring protection during inclement weather and an outdoor experience on the pleasant days. “Some clients really like this option and report that it’s a good way to give their horse exposure to both indoor and outdoor conditions, meaning they’re better equipped to deal with both scenarios when they head out to competitions” Jonny explains.

A partially covered arena delivers the best of both worlds.

There’s plenty to consider when planning to build or retrofit a covered arena, and consulting experienced contractors for advice is highly recommended. The ABC Sheds team has an excellent reputation for innovative design, outstanding customer service and quality projects. At present, the team is running a Funds for Fires campaign, with $1,000 from every shed purchased (including arena covers) being donated to the Rapid Relief Team, a volunteer organisation that lends a hand to Australia’s emergency services during times of crisis such as the recent bushfires.

This article was written in conjunction with ABC Sheds.
 

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