Greg Meyer Construction Ltd

Equestrian Riding Arenas

As owners and riders of horses we keenly appreciate the difference 
between a quality and poor riding surface. This insight allows us to 
work with you the customer to design a riding arena to suit your    
demands as a rider, the physical location of the school, and your 
budget. Do you have an existing school with problems? Click Here. 

There are numerous surfaces that are used in riding arenas.  
Silica Sand is the most common material used often in combination 
with shredded rubber that is reclaimed from used tyres or conveyer 
belting.  PVC granules and other similar synthetic materials can also 
be used.  Each material has it's good and bad points and variables in 
costs. In outdoor schools, sub-base drainage is essential for rapid and 
efficient removal of excess water after heavy rains.

We typically use 75 mm slotted
drain tile contained in 10 mm pea
shingle that is surrounded by a 
geotextile fabric to exclude fine
soils from plugging the drain 
system.


After installation of drainage pipe, 
layer of geotextile fabric membrane is placed on the ground surface. 
This medium functions to keep the soft subsoil from migrating up into 
the hardcore base or worse mixing with the actual riding surface.
   
Next the sub-base is placed. In the above photo partially crushed reject 
brick was used for this particular project due to low cost and availability.
   
Finely the actual riding surface is placed over the sub base which is then 
compacted with a roller.

Sharp silica sand was selected
for this school. Note the standing
water in the rough graded 
foreground with no excess water 
in the riding surface. 50 mm of 
rain had fallen the morning of this 
photo. Final landscaping and 
perimeter fencing had yet to be 
completed.

The first "go" with a happy rider and
 happy horse.

Place cursor over the various parts of
image below to view general recommended 
construction specifications of 
school surfaces. 

Existing soil that is leveled and compacted as needed.

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