Building a little manege/lunge pen - ADVICE PLS!

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Hollyhorse

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We have a 60x20 manege which is fab but doesn't really cope with lunging, I was told this when it was built but knew that ultimately I'd have a lunge pen due to how much I lunge and now that time has come! I originally wanted a round lunge pen, probably about 15-18m diametre, but recently I spent a long period of time at a livery yard where there was a little indoor school (10 x 15m) which was used for lunging and also for riding when it was raining! I thought this was a great idea so would like to do the same (except 10/12 x 20m) which won't have a cover initially but hopefully will at some point in the future. The main usage would be for lunging but when it has a roof it would be for riding when there's torrential rain etc! We have a very limited budget (as always) and am looking to do this ourselves at the cheapest cost. I know there are places to save, such as the fencing and surfaces. Re surfaces it is essential that it copes with lots of lunging without having to be levelled after every usage (it won't be used for jumping or dressage). Does anyone have any advice on building maneges or lunge pens and where I can save?
Many thanks
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No advice re surfacing but 10/12 metres is not wide enough to lunge on! Needs to be 20m to avoid too much strain on joints and back!
 
Def wants to be at least 20m in diameter. I'm having a proper round pen built and it will hopefully be 24m in diameter. It will have a silica sand and Flexiride surface as this is what I have on the horse walker, which only needs raking once a week.
 
I'm afraid I'd have to disagree. The little indoor school at the yard where I've been for the last few months is 10 x 15 and fine for lunging, the PSG dressage rider also uses it lots and says it's fine. I also have a 60x20 at home n when I lunge in that the horses are always on an 'inner' track and never reach the track. I appreciate that 10/12 metres is not ideal, we may be able to stretch to 15/18 metres but when speaking to the company that built our manege he builds lunge pens at 17m as you don't need the full 20m - I just can't use him for money reasons! Thanks for the feedback tho. I'll have a look into the silica sand and flexiride surface.
 
Our lunging arena is 17m circle (we dont have a school at our new place just a mowed grass arena for dressage)
Mum designed it on bashed/rolled chalk so it drains with tanned wood peel - it hardly tracks at all - doesnt blow out and my horses certainly dont suffer from sore backs/joints etc, they are all a bunch of wusses and blow up as soon as some things not right - I think that sounds fine.

In general we only walk/trot as most work mum will do in there during the week whislt im working using the pesoa on a long and low setting.
 
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