11 minute read
Going undercover
GOING under COVER
AFTER ANOTHER HARSH WINTER, THOUGHTS TURN TO THE COMFORTS OF AN INDOOR ARENA. HELEN TRIGGS EXPLORES SOME OF THE OPTIONS TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE ELEMENTS WHILE STILL RETAINING THE BEST OF OUTDOOR RIDING.
There’s no denying that building an indoor arena from scratch, or even converting an existing outdoor, doesn’t come cheap – even if you don’t want chandeliers, air conditioning and a luxury gallery.
For a basic structure and roof to cover a 20x60 indoor school, you should budget at least £100,000 but there could be additional costs depending on groundwork, fi nish, type of surface, quality of kick boards, lighting etc.
As with any structure, planning permission is the fi rst consideration, particularly if your yard is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or in a location where the neighbours may ob ect to what is, in eff ect, a large shed appearing in their sightlines. esley hu ebottom of steel frame construction company, hu ebottom td advises bringing in an expert. “When I built my own indoor arena I already had a small building on the site which made obtaining planning easier. Planning fees cost around £4000 and I paid another £2000 to an architect and planning specialist. Of course, if planning is refused you don’t get these costs back,” he explains.
The planning process can be torturous and involve compromise on siting, materials, location, access and landscaping. Even the colour of the fi nal building can be sub ect to regulations to match the surrounding area. However long you think it might take, it’s wise to double the time! Make a clear case for why you need it. The argument for keeping horses fi t during winter months and pro iding year-round amenities for say, RDA or Pony Club activities may sway the decision. You
ABOVE: THE CHALLENGE WITH THE SURFACE IN AN INDOOR IS KEEPING THE MOISTURE IN, UNLESS YOU HAVE A WATERING SYSTEM, WHICH IS WHY WAXED MATERIALS ARE POPULAR. LEFT: A COVERED OUTDOOR ARENA OFFERS PROTECTION FROM THE WORST OF THE WEATHER BUT OFFERS THE BENEFITS OF MORE LIGHT AND AIR CIRCULATION, WHILE ALLOWING HORSES AND RIDERS TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON OUTSIDE. BELOW: PUTTING A ROOF ON AN EXISTING ARENA COULD BE A COST-EFFECTIVE OPTION.
can appoint an independent planning expert or use the services provided by one of the major arena build companies such as Andrews Bowen, who provide planning, design and construction services. A conversion of an existing outdoor arena, will also still be subject to planning regulations, and there’s the surface to consider.
“If you want to preserve your existing surface, you’ll need to remove it or move it into the centre during construction, suggests David Andrews of Andrews Bowen. “We recommend removing the surface if possible. Also seek advice from your surface provider on whether the material is going to be suitable for use under a roof where the conditions will be diff erent.” Most people choose to erect a steel frame over the arena and you will frame over the arena and you will need to allow for a larger area around need to allow for a larger area around the edges to accommodate the steel the edges to accommodate the steel posts which hold up the roof, and posts which hold up the roof, and foundations will add an extra 2m all foundations will add an extra 2m all the way around. You will also need to the way around. You will also need to factor in tidying up or landscaping the factor in tidying up or landscaping the surrounding area to make it safe. surrounding area to make it safe. “Choice of roofi ng may depend on local planning constraints and a on local planning constraints and a material like fi bre cement is useful as it material like fi bre cement is useful as it holds some moisture and also reduces holds some moisture and also reduces noise in comparison with steel roofs,” noise in comparison with steel roofs,” advises Wesley. advises Wesley.
SURFACE MATTERS
David Andrews of Andrews Bowen has welcomed new legislation which will prevent the use of post-consumer carpet fi bres in arena surfaces. The Environment Agency has stated that this use presents an unacceptable risk to the environment, is no longer exempt from the Waste Framework Directive and has removed its low risk waste permit.
“This new legislation (which comes into effect on 17 June 2021) is music to our ears. If you are offered a cheap surface always ask for a certifi cate showing the origin of the carpet fi bres.” “We have never used post-consumer carpet fi bre in our surfaces as we believe it is a risk to the health of humans and horses. Carpet fi bres for consumer use are treated with fl ame retardant and stain resistant chemicals and these are released into the atmosphere when they are ridden on.
“Using these waste products can make the surface cost cheaper but they are a risk. They can also contain large amounts of dust and even nails from when they have been removed from their previous position. We have scoped horses that have been ridden on these kinds of surfaces and the results were unpleasant.”
The chemicals can also affect the performance of a waxed surface as they cause it to dry out more quickly and become even dustier. “We use carpet fi bres as a structure to replicate a natural surface. However at Andrews Bowen we have been trialling a patented purely natural fi bre, free of synthetics. We hope to launch soon – so watch this space!”
ABOVE: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS? GARETH HUGHES HAD HIS INDOOR ARENA BUILT WITH ONE OPEN SIDE TO OFFER MORE LIGHT AND VENTILATION.
British Dressage official partner Andrews Bowen is surface provider for the Winter Championships at Hartpury and the National Championships at Somerford Park.
Once covered, drainage won’t be needed for the surface as the challenge is to keep the moisture in. For that reason, a waxed surface is preferable, unless you have a means of watering in summer.
Emma and Mark Butler have successfully covered their arena in Kent. “We are on the top of a hill so it’s often wet and windy,” explains Emma. “I think the seasons have changed and the weather is a lot wetter and colder than it was. When we moved in here there was a basic woodchip arena; we replaced it with a waxed surface and originally it was really good. Then we had 18 months of continual rain and it just wasn’t draining properly. We also spent a lot of time clearing the arena of leaves, blossom and catkins from nearby trees.
“We were looking at replacing the surface and when we got quotes, my dad Peter said ‘I could put a roof on it for that’.”
Peter loves a challenge and when they realised it would cost £75,000 just to have a plastic cover, they decided to build a steel framed school. They employed an architect to help with the planning process. “We are in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but there is a strong rural economy. There’s a big fruit farm up the road with large buildings and I think that helped us by setting a precedent. We did have to prove that the business would provide local jobs. Maidstone council planners were actually very good,” says Emma.
The resulting arena is enclosed on two sides to screen off woods and a footpath. For a year, their 25x55m arena went down to 20x40m as the steel frame and roof were erected. A concrete contractor was used to dig out the foundations and a good deal negotiated with a steels manufacturer, whereby their steels would be manufactured as part of larger orders. “It was cheaper but not quicker,” commented Emma.
Because they did a lot of the work themselves, and they were able to retain their surface, the costs for a usable indoor came to around £40,000. “Our surface is now 11 years old and still rides well, though we are precious about managing it.”
“It’s the best thing we ever did,” says Emma. “It’s not completely insulated so we do still get some ‘weather’ depending on the direction the wind is blowing. I think some indoors schools which are completely enclosed can be too clinical. I like the fact that I can see what’s going on in the rest of the yard and the horses have some outside stimulus when they are training. When international trainers come we pop them in the corner with a heater to keep them warm!”
An indoor with open sides offers natural light and ventilation, although it might not reduce the costs that much. When selecting which side/s to leave open, David Andrews advises that you need to check the prevailing winds and patter of sunlight as these can affect how the surface dries out.
“In a perfect world you would have an open side with shutters or doors which come down for maybe six weeks a year,” he says. “Safety is key, so you have to bear in mind wind and noise which can affect the horses. It’s a huge investment, so you have to make sure you get it right.”
An open-sided arena was always the choice for Gareth and Rebecca Hughes when they built their international sized indoor, leaving one long side completely open. “Some indoor arenas are built more for humans than horses. There were two main reasons for our choice – light and ventilation which are so important for the horses,” says Gareth. “It’s so much brighter and there’s no stuffy feeling in the summer. We selected the open side which is away from the prevailing weather – if the rain’s going sideways you just ride half a metre in from the edge. It happens about four days a year.”
BELOW: MARK AND EMMA BUTLER WERE ABLE TO RE-USE THEIR EXISTING SURFACE HAVING COVERED THEIR SCHOOL WITH A ROOF AND TWO SIDES FOR PROTECTION FROM PREVAILING WINDS AND RAIN.
PRODUCT WATCH
THE ANDREWS BOWEN
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ARENAS AND SURFACES
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SHUFFLEBOTTOM LTD is an award-winning family business manufacturing steel-framed buildings for family business manufacturing steel-framed buildings for equestrian, agricultural, commercial and industrial purposes. equestrian, agricultural, commercial and industrial purposes. Buildings can be ordered as kits for customers to erect, or Buildings can be ordered as kits for customers to erect, or with an erection service. They are used for a wide range with an erection service. They are used for a wide range of purposes including indoor riding schools and stables. of purposes including indoor riding schools and stables. Shuffl ebottom Ltd is incredibly proud of the awards that they have received, including RoSPA Gold awards, Buildings of the Year awards, Specialist Contractor awards and training awards.
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EQUESTRIAN SURFACES LTD is a leading
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ELMTREE CONSTRUCTION specialises in building bespoke equestrian facilities including indoor and outdoor manèges, stables, barns and horse walkers. They offer a turnkey service, taking your project from conception, through manèges, stables, barns and horse walkers. They offer a turnkey service, taking your project from conception, through planning, to the fi nished build. With over 20 years of experience, Elmtree Construction will help guide you through the process of your equestrian or residential project. Designed to suit individual requirements, this can range from a standard sand and fi bre surface for domestic use to a fully irrigated, manufactured surface for professional and competition use.
