Considerations for building a Manege
Note: This text is for information only and should not be construed as instructions for building your arena.
The
cost of installing a manege is probably one of the most expensive outlays that
any yard may have to incur and careful consideration to its construction is of the utmost importance.
We offer a few pointers that may help below.
a) Site position and lie of the land The Site
Indoor arenas can be developed from a disused barn or outbuilding, of course
some are
specially built to serve the purpose but if an existing building is available this will reduce the
cost outlay quite drastically. It is worth bearing in mind that indoor arenas can become considerably
dusty environments and some form of watering/sprinkler system will have to be installed to control this.
Drainage
Unfortunately this country, and many others, does not allow us the luxury to
discount the fact that at some point in time we will have heavy or extended
rainfall. This alone determines that adequate drainage will be of paramount
importance when constructing an outdoor arena. Once the site has been decided
upon and the land has been levelled this will be the next important factor to
consider. Depending on your locality the sub surface of the land may be of
gravel and have excellent natural drainage but in most areas the need to
insert land drainage will be necessary. This drainage can be laid in
a variety of fashions and it will be at the discretion of the builder as to how
this is done. A common practice is to lay drains in an herring bone pattern
which gives excellent all round drainage to the whole arena area. If your budget
will permit it is good practice to provide for rodding points for these drains
to assist in clearing, should this become necessary after prolonged use. Should
any drains become blocked for any reason the surface will become boggy and
puddles will form, rendering that area unusable. In the main this should not be
necessary if the drainage is laid in the correct manner. The importance of
ensuring correct drainage cannot be stressed enough, once the top layers and
surface are in position, accessing this layer is very difficult and not an exercise
that any arena owner would relish. In extreme circumstances it may be necessary
to dig up the whole arena and re-lay the drainage, a very expensive operation.
After the drainage
has been set the next operation is to lay the sub surface for the arena. These
layers give the necessary solid base needed to cover the drainage, protecting it
from finer particles filtering through and supporting the top surface. Again professional
arena builders have their preference as to which type of material to use which
may depend on that which is locally available and cost effective. In general
this consists of a layer of clean crushed concrete topped with road scalping or
similar. It is important that these layers are porous to allow water to filter
through to the drains but closely packed enough to prevent the top surface
material permeating through. Final rolling to compact these layers is carried
out leaving a level and firm base on which the top surface may be laid. This
layer cannot be left too loose as it would eventually creep through to the top
layer.
There
are a variety of commercially available surface materials. The choice of
type will be down to personal preference but will also depend greatly on
your budget as differential in cost can be quite significant. In the main
these are divided into three categories, Sand, wood and rubber. Synthetic grass
surfaces are also available but not generally used on the majority of general
purpose arenas. Each have their own merits and behavior properties.
Sand
is the most common top surface material, is readily available in all areas
and is the mostly cost
effective. Even when finally topping with rubber etc the sand is used as the
base or mix.
b) Whether the arena is indoor or out door
c) Underlying construction and type of drainage
d) Weather conditions and time of year
d) Type of surface material
e) The amount of usage
f) Maintenance
Considering the position of the site for construction of an outdoor manege will depend on
space availability (an average sized arena is 40 metres x 20 metres). Ideally this should be as
close to the stable block as possible and allow easy access for all year round use. Muddy tracks leading to
the arena may have to be resurfaced adding to the cost. It is more economical
to choose a position where the ground is level as this will reduce the cost of ground removal and
build up, although a sloping site will assist with the drainage fall. Construction close to existing buildings
or tree lines can be useful by utilizing these as wind breaks. The early morning sun is a natural de-icer during
those frosty days and make the manege a pleasant environment to work the horse, however full exposure during summer days
can be uncomfortable for both the rider and the horse.
There are many aspects to be considered and one must make the best use of the available land and natural elements.
Most reputable arena builders will give you full guidance in these areas. Even
if you are considering "self Build" some will still offer valuable
advice and be willing to supply the materials for you.
Wood bark or chippings . Careful choice of wood is obviously one of the main priorities with this type of surface or you will end up with a paper mache arena. Wood surfaces must be of a good grade of hard wood to withstand the rigors of use. Most are treated to ensure weathering properties etc. This type of surface is favoured by some but is still down to personal preference. Is used a lot for gallops and racing applications.
Rubber topping to sand surfaces is
becoming increasingly popular and although comparatively expensive gives
excellent riding properties, allow all year round use and can be less
maintenance intensive. Rubber chips or chunks (soft track) is the favorable type used but is slightly more expensive than the strip and shredded particles
that are also available. Rubber will help to retain essential moisture in the sand base during
hot weather. (see our Links page for suppliers of top surface materials)
Once all the expense and upheaval is over and you are standing looking at that nice new surface, beckoning you and your horse to enter and ride, it is easy to forget that in order to keep your arena in this pristine condition it will be necessary to maintain it on a regular basis. Please Click here for full details on how the Manege Manager can help you to easily achieve this