If you want to be able to ride your horse in rain or shine, one option is to build an indoor riding arena.
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To construct an indoor riding arena quickly and affordably, consider ordering one from a metal building company.
This guide will explain why metal makes a great building material for an equine riding arena. We will also discuss commons sizes, customization features and more.
Why Choose Metal for Your Indoor Riding Building?
Here are some reasons metal—in particular, steel—is an ideal choice for your indoor riding arena:
- Clear span design: You need a large clear-span structure to serve as your indoor riding arena. A metal prefab building makes this possible, giving you plenty of room to ride free of obstructions.
- Strength and durability: Steel is one of the strongest and most dependable building materials around. A fabric riding arena can tear, and a wooden one can also suffer serious damage. Metal is not completely damage-proof, but the odds of the structure being compromised are low.
- Weather-resistance: As we just mentioned, fabric is prone to tearing, which means that if you live in a windy condition, a fabric arena is not the best idea, especially for year-round use. Wood also can be damaged by wind, hail, or debris flying around in a storm. But metal can stand up to all of these, weathering them without significant damage. There is a good chance your area is subject to harsh weather, as that is one of the main reasons you would want to build an indoor riding facility in the first place. So, this is an important consideration.
- Fire-resistance: Both wood and fabric can catch fire and burn, sometimes resulting in the destruction of an entire structure. But a metal riding facility will not combust, even though the metal will heat up. It stands a better chance of surviving a blaze.
- Pest-resistance: Pests such as termites and mice can cause major problems for cloth and wood structures, which they can easily chew through, sometimes to the point of compromising the entire thing. But they are not going to be able to destroy a metal riding arena.
- Precision manufacturing: The components of a metal building kit used to construct an indoor riding arena or other metal structure are prefabricated in a controlled indoor facility, where conditions are consistent. As a result, the attention to detail and precision of the manufacturing eclipse what would be possible constructing everything outdoors. Components fit together better with few or not gaps, resulting in a strong, leak-proof arena.
- Rapid and easy construction: The traditional construction process for riding arenas was time-intensive, because everything had to be built on-site. Sometimes inclement weather would force construction to halt. But that is not the case with indoor prefabricated construction. The components can be manufactured quickly and easily without interruptions from the weather. Once they arrive at your site, minimal work is required to install them and complete construction of your arena.
- Affordability: It does not cost as much to build a metal prefab indoor riding arena as it would to build one the traditional way. You save on the cost of materials, manufacturing, and construction. And if you order from a company that has a facility that is reasonably close to where you live, you should be able to keep shipping costs to a minimum as well.
- Easy maintenance: Think about all the maintenance work you sometimes have to do to keep a wood or fabric structure in tiptop condition. If you let those maintenance tasks go, or skip out on important repairs, problems just get worse and more expensive. A steel riding arena is unlikely to require much in the way of maintenance or repairs, saving you time and money over the long haul.
- Longevity: When a structure is so durable that it does not require much maintenance or repair work, you can count on it to last a very long time. A metal indoor riding arena can provide you with decades of enjoyment, and still be in excellent condition.
- Custom features: Metal indoor riding arena kits can be customized to your needs. You can choose doors, windows, insulation, and additional options to create your ideal structure.
Common Sizes for Indoor Riding Arenas
Indoor riding arenas come in a variety of sizes, but here are a couple of common sizes you may run across:
- 80′ wide x 200′ long
- 60′ wide x 120′ long
You can build a riding arena in a common size, or you can order a riding arena kit in a custom size.
When you choose a size for your arena, make sure you think about both the building site and what it can accommodate, and how you plan to use the arena (i.e. dressage or jumping). You will need more room for jumping than you would for dressage.
Indoor Riding Arena Customization Features
The customization features available for your indoor riding arena depend on the metal building company you choose. Here are some common customization options for equine riding arenas:
- Doors and windows
- Siding materials
- Roofing materials
- Porches
- Extra rooms
- Lighting options
- Arena liner
- Arena footing
- Insulation
- Cupolas
- Finishing
How Much Does It Cost To Build A Riding Arena?
We have seen a remarkably wide price range for indoor riding arenas, with facilities costing as little as $5 per square foot to construct on the lower end, or as much as $50 per square foot at the upper end. Please note that is for all possible materials; people build riding arenas out of wood, metal and fabric.
At the lower end, you may get away with building an equine riding arena for around $40,000. At the top of the price range, you could pay about $500,000. Most horse riding arenas fall somewhere in between, with the average being around $150,000.
Fabric is, of course, the cheapest option, but also the least durable. Wood is the most expensive. Metal is actually somewhere in between, with costs ranging from $5 per square foot up to around $30 per square foot. The average cost per square foot for a metal indoor riding facility is about $17.50.
The larger the arena, the higher the overall cost will be. But with a bigger arena, your cost per square foot may be lower, making for a cost-efficient structure.
Other features and considerations that can impact the cost for your indoor riding arena include:
- Optional features you choose for your arena
- The costs of the materials at the time of your purchase
- The costs for construction
- The shipping and delivery costs
- The overall layout
What Should You Look For When Choosing a Metal Building Company for Your Indoor Riding Arena?
There are a lot of metal building companies out there, but not every one of them is up to the task of building a high quality indoor riding arena. Here is what to look for when you select a company to work with on your indoor riding arena project:
- Specialized expertise: Try and specifically choose a company that has extensive experience working on equestrian projects, especially metal indoor riding arenas. A company that has a portfolio of similar projects can anticipate and remove obstacles and help you design a structure that will achieve your individual goals. Be sure to ask for references, and actually follow up and contact them.
- Quality manufacturing: Pick a metal building company that has a reputation for high quality materials and manufacturing techniques. Their final structures should be durable—bonus points if they are also eco-friendly.
- Customization: The best metal building companies will offer you extensive customization options and a simple, clear design process.
- Communication: The manufacturing and shipping process for a prefab metal indoor riding arena should be relatively fast. Nonetheless, you are going to want to be kept in the loop with regular updates. Work with a company that does a great job communicating.
- Customer service: Finally, pick a metal building company that takes as much time as you need to answer your questions and address your concerns. An indoor riding arena is a major investment, and you want the process to be transparent and smooth while inspiring confidence in the company.
Ready to build your Arena?
Our top recommended metal building company for indoor riding arenas is Morton Buildings. Morton has been in the business since 1903. The company is 100% employee-owned, and has more than 100 construction centers along with seven manufacturing plants. Their portfolio currently contains over 160 equestrian projects, including indoor riding arenas and horse barns.
Few companies can rival Morton in terms of specialized experience in equestrian projects. With their wide range of customization options and their fast, efficient build process, they can help you quickly build an indoor riding arena that is suited to your needs. To get started now, click below for your custom quote.