How to Build an Equine Riding Ring

There is no right or wrong when constructing a riding arena. There are however, a lot of variables to consider when building and some basic guidelines that you should follow. Before you start, you need to decide approximately how much money you have budgeted for the project, what discipline you will be using the ring for, and where on your property you will be building the ring.

Things You'll Need

  • Crushed stone
  • Stone dust
  • Fencing material
  • Footing material
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Decide the size of your ring. What type of riding are you going to be doing in it? If you are going to be using your ring for jumping, you will want a different size than if you are doing dressage. Where is your riding ring going to be? If you only have a smaller area, then your ring will be on the smaller side than if you have unlimited space. The size of your ring will also dictate the pricing on the rest of your materials. The larger your ring the more money fencing, footing, and leveling will cost.

    • 2

      Pick what type, if any, fencing you are going to put around the ring. The most common is post and rail, but this choice is mainly about how much money you have for fencing. A typical post and rail fence can cost you around $5,000 or more, depending on the size of the ring. There are some types of fencing you should stay away from. Electric fencing is dangerous to you and your horse. Wire fencing is also not advised for rings for the same reason. Some people choose not to put any fencing up at all. The downside to this is if you have beginner riders who can't steer, or if you get a loose horse, there is no way to contain it.

    • 3

      Decide what type of footing best suites your arena. Some are very expensive, some are less. Some are great for jumping rings, some are great for barrel racing. This decision depends on what your wallet allows, the discipline you use the ring for, and what is available for your area. Common types of footing are sand, stone dust, sand and rubber mix, and wood chips. Stone dust is the least expensive and you can usually get it for your ring for under $5,000. Synthetic footing, the sand and rubber mix, is the most expensive and can cost upwards of $10,000. Just sand is in the middle, around $7,000. One basic rule for footing is not to make it too deep. A standard depth to start with is 2 to 3 inches to start with. If your ring needs more after that you can add it. If you start with too much, it's very hard to take some out. If you have too much footing, you risk hurting your horse.

    • 4

      Level the area in the dimensions you have set aside for the ring. You want the ground as level as possible to make sure the ring is able to drain properly. Secondly, you want to lay 2 to 3 inches of crushed stone over the leveled area. If you want, an option is to bury perforated pipe in the crushed stone to assist with drainage. Next, you want to put several inches of stone dust on top of the crushed stone and pack it. This will create a base for your footing to go on top of. Fourth, put the fencing up around the perimeter of the ring. Some people put an edge along the bottom of the fence to keep the footing from washing away. This edge is optional. Lastly, you add your footing to the ring. The important thing is make sure the footing is spread evenly throughout the ring.