Q: CAN I BUILD AN ARENA ON A HILL?
A: “YES, you can build an arena on a hill,” says Thomas Harper of Equestrian Surfaces Ltd. “The steepness of the hill does not matter, as the process to build the arena is the same in all cases. Approximately 95% of arena builds done by Equestrian Surfaces Ltd are on a slope of varying degrees. There are three main considerations for choosing to build on a hill; how it will be levelled, drainage, and fencing.
“Firstly, you must decide how to make the site level; either by cutting into the hill on one side and using that soil to raise the other side, or levelling to the lowest part of the land which will move more soil and take more time and money. Draining on the uphill side of the arena should be installed to divert hillside water around the perimeter of the arena so that the arena drainage is not overloaded.
“Finally, to put fencing on the side of the arena that had been filled, it is integral to ensure it is really well compacted and that there is a metre or two of banking with stone beyond the fence before it starts to decline, so that there is enough support to keep the fence upright, even as the soil settles.”
Q: I HAVE AN EXISTING ARENA IN POOR CONDITION, CAN I REFURBISH IT OR SHOULD I START AGAIN?
A: “OLD arenas can certainly be refurbished, but it depends on a few things,” says James Riley, director of Equestrian Direct Ltd. “Firstly, assess what you have, so I’d start by checking the depth of the surface around the arena to see how level it is. As a rule of thumb, you should have around 125mm to 150mm of surface consistently around the arena.
This story is from the October 07, 2021 edition of Horse & Hound.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 07, 2021 edition of Horse & Hound.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Jappeloup
A small horse who looked like two halves put together’, Jappeloup nonetheless proved to have a big heart and a huge talent”.
Collett takes two
A bumper fixture hosts 12 intermediate and open intermediate sections, as Paris contenders blow away the cobwebs
Capitalise on buyers' remorse
Equestrian properties might be in short supply, but prices are back to normal after the Covid frenzy as the capital lures buyers again
Games making
Equestrianism will be in the thick of the action in Paris, but the logistics of hosting Olympics in the heart of an iconic city are a challenge. Kate Johnson asks organisers, riders and grooms for their memories of urban Olympic sites
On the bench
Being picked as the \"fourth man\" to support a three-man Olympic team, ready to step in at any moment in the competition, requires a resilient and unflinchingly sportsmanlike mindset.
A brush with the Games
Want to know what really goes into preparing an Olympic campaign? Bethany Stone speaks to top industry grooms with star-studded CVs for the scoop
One moment in time
The Olympics is the zenith of an athlete's career but precious few scale those giddy heights. Sue Polley asks four British Olympians about their most memorable experiences
'Pride? I just felt relief
Blyth Tait on jumping barn roofs, \"freezing\" in the Atlanta heat and the day his eight-year-old prodigy won Olympic gold
Mental health advocate
Harry Dunlop retired from training in 2022, having held his licence for 16 years. He founded the Trainer Support Network in 2023
Hugo Simon
The six-time Olympian tells Bernard Bale about his \"extraterrestrial\" string of horses, changing nationality and his success at the boycotted Games