The Mystery of the Manege!

1. Which Company?

The first stage is receiving quotations and choosing your construction company. All companies should complete a site consultation visit and advice you of the following:

Arena Location - preferably or next to existing stable block if there is one on site, this obviously gives better access from the stables and aids with planning permission if required. Don't be too surprised if they recommend poorly drained, unlevel, or difficult to access land, this can sometimes be the best position for your Arena and will make best use of these kind of areas.

Planning Permission - experienced companies should be able to guide you through the minefield that can be planning applications! For a small fee it is worth utilising the skills and knowledge in this area to obtain the permission for your Arena.

2. Site Survey

Any ground works project should be commenced with a detailed site survey conducted by a qualified engineer. This will determine land levels on site which are essential to the finish, without this you may affect your drainage and of course not receive a flat, compacted and level riding surface.

3. Land Preparation

As you can see, professional excavating equipment is used to prepare the land to the levels determined by the land level survey, the "cut and fill" should be done to the required gradient for the drainage solution. Up to 200 tonnes of top soil can be removed on a 20m x 40m installation so prepare yourself for heavy machinery and plant to be moving around on and off your land. A large proportion of the top soil is used for re-landscaping and levelling the area around the arena.

4. Drainage

The drainage system in your arena is probably one of the most important aspects of the construction, it ensures the surface water is drained equally which enables consistency and a better performance of the riding surface. As you can see, the lines of drainage, either a herringbone or straight-line system, is most commonly used and these are cut into the plateau during the earthworks process.

A sub soil terram is laid over the site and then the pipes are laid under a 150mm layer of "clean and washed" quarry drainage stone. Nothing other than clean drainage stone should be used as this is what it is specifically designed for, water runs through it with ease and the stone base wont solidify over time. Reclaimed brick or rubble will cause you untold problems and should be a vital point that you check on any quotation.

After testing of the system it should be sealed with a second layer of membrane, this time a high quality geotextile membrane is laid over the complete subsurface and the seams are bonded. The edges are then connected to the kickboard lines to seal the drainage unit from contamination from the riding surface.

5. Fencing & Access

The Arena is really now starting to take shape, and the fencing will be installed using treated timber to protect against the elements, weathered tops are also used for this purpose. Finishing touches can make all the difference and the installation of an equestrian gate latch for ease of use is recommended. The post should always be concreted into the ground as this is part of the base construction but rails should be able to break in the event of a collision for health and safety purposes.

6. Installing the Riding Surface

The choice of surface is down to yourself but this should have been discussed and advised during the site survey. It will be dependent on the level of use, for which discipline, and of course cost. There are lots of different types of surfaces available. Make sure you choose the right surface for you and your needs.

7. Installation of Combi-Ride Stabiliser

Ensure that your constructors are using only Pro Silica Sand, sand is not just sand!. Silica sand is used as it is a more ‘structured’ base to work on and Jump Stabilisers are designed to blend with the Silica. An all weather rubber topping can be applied to the sand. This will protect against freezing during the winter and offers protection from high winds. It will also provide increased propulsion and shock absorption when jumping.

8. Enjoy!

The Arena should be ready for you to use as soon as the site is cleared but remember maintenance is vital. Grading your arena is essential in keeping it in a perfect condition. Purpose built graders pulled by quads or a small tractor makes the task an easy one and not too time consuming.