Classifications for Indoor Riding Arenas

Indoor riding arenas are large, barn-like structures, usually made from steel girders and corrugated iron. The floor is normally lined with a membrane and spread with a soft topping made of sand, rubber, peat or a combination. These arenas allow horse riders to exercise their mounts no matter the weather outdoors. Due to the high cost of erecting and maintaining these buildings, they are not common among private horse owners, but are more often seen at riding schools and competition venues.

  1. Sizes of Indoor Arenas

    • Indoor arenas are not necessarily built to a standard size. A small arena measures about 65 feet by 130 feet. An arena built to these dimensions would classified as a dressage arena, as it is the international size specified in dressage tests. Some arenas are also built as large dressage arenas, and measure about 65 feet by 200 feet. Most commercial riding arenas used by riding schools or competition venues are 120 feet by 200 feet.

    Fully Enclosed Arenas

    • Most arenas that are classified as indoor are fully enclosed with four sides and a roof. This makes them expensive to erect, but fully weatherproof. They will normally be fitted with skylight windows and electric light, and have a lofty, triangular-shaped roof to provide good ventilation in hot weather. They also sometimes have a sprinkler system to damp down the dust. The type of arena is often seen at competition venues, with a viewing platform or seating area built in.

    Covered Arenas

    • As an alternative to being fully enclosed, some arenas have only a roof and no walls. These are classified as covered arenas and are also sometimes known as Dutch barns. They are cheaper to erect but do not offer full protection from the elements, particularly for spectators. These buildings sometimes have an overhang to allow additional protection to horses waiting to enter the arena.

    Barn Arenas

    • As a more economical option, sometimes indoor arenas are added onto another building, such as an existing barn. This is a practical solution, as in some cases horses can be moved into the arena from their stalls without going outside. In addition, services, such as water and electricity, are already connected to the building.