Building an indoor school - any advice appreciated

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Pippin79

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We have our own yard, with our own horses and also have all types of livery. We currently have a 50 x 25m outdoor menage and a seperate lungepen. We have been toying with the idea of building an indoor school for a while but we're not sure if it will really add to the business or is just a very expensive luxury!

Can anyone help with the minimum size you think an indoor should be? We don't have a fortune to spend but don't want to shell out what's a lot of money anyway and end up with something too small!

We would like to use the school for lessons, schooling, loose jumping and maybe hold some clinics. It wouldn't be as a 'show centre' as such with no viewing gallery or warm up area. Whilst it would be nice to be able to put up courses, the menage we have is big enough for that so its not really necessary if it adds to much to the price.

We have a few other yards in the area with outdoor schools but not many with indoors - do you think if you were looking at several similar livery yards would an indoor school be a deal clincher?

Sorry to go on, just a bit unsure of whether to take the plunge!!
 
I would love an indoor, but realistically I am not sure if the increase in livery prices and the income from the lessons, etc would ever cover the cost of the school. To give you an idea a friend put one up a year ago and it cost 100k not including the cost of the surface, so it's quite difficult to make that sort of money back. If you use it as part of a business (which it sounds like you might) you would also have high running costs with all the associated taxes.

20x40 I think is a nice size, anything smaller it becomes a bit difficult to use. Anything larger is a bonus but goes with a corresponding increase in size. If you want to jump in there you also need to think of the extra height (flatwork only you might get away with slightly lower head room but you still need enough clearance to be safe).
 
Well personally I could never have my horse at a yard without an indoor so yes for me it would *always* be a deal clincher, however in the UK there are fewer indoor schools than on the Continent so maybe it is seen more as a luxury than a need (which is what it is in Europe!)

As for size, I think the ideal size is 20x60. The minimum you would be looking at is 20x40 though; anything smaller than that is too small!
 
Thank you Booboos! Yes it is a business and we do pay rates so definitely worth seeing how much this would add.

I don't think we would ever expect to recoup the cost of putting it up but if it would bring in more liveries and could be used to generate a bit of extra money through the other things it seems a bit more justifiable if that makes sense! We pretty much need to put in an extra school anyway so are toying with the idea of having a roof on it...

Out of interest, do you know the size of the one your friend put up?
 
Yes, unfortunately it was only 20x40. The major cost is the steel work because you need huge posts and beams for both height and to cover the roof expanse. It was all done by a professional company and does look lovely. I am not too sure what the scope is for a more DIY kind of job but it all depends on how handy you are I suppose!!!
 
You could always contemplate the idea of having a covered arena, rather than a completely indoor one? That way the majority of the school would be dry, expect if there is horizontal rainfall? It would still be windy though...
Just an idea :)
 
My suggestion would be to contact agricultural building contractors and not mention to them that the building will be an indoor school, you want a steel frame livestock/storage building, clear span of minimum 60 and ideally 70 feet (or more, sometimes 80' would be cheaper as more standard), the length won't be a problem, as they come in sections of either 15 or 20 feet. You can sometimes get the steel frame second hand, as well as roofing sheets. The height shouldn't be a problem either, as with such a large span, it will be minimum 16 ft to the eaves anyway :)
I'll try to google for you ;)
there you go, bottom left corner;
http://www.antoninegroup.co.uk/
 
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Thanks everyone, really helpful ideas. The second hand shed sounds a great way to cut the cost down, thanks Martlin! Have now contacted them.
 
We're also thinking o doing the same. We currently have a 60 x 40 outdoor, but the weather is just getting worse and worse in winter.

Our idea is to build an indoor with a yard on the side of it and rent that as a whole.

Ideal is 60 x 20, but minimum 40 x 20.

If you only have 3 sides enclosed, business rates are same as an outdoor, that's why loads of pro riders do this e.g. Carl Hester.

One thing I will say though is don't get a cheap surface. If we go ahead ours will definitely have a Waxed surface.
 
We have an indoor which we converted from a farm building. It is 18m x 38m. It is great, but not ideal. You can't jump much more than a double with 2 strides between and only really down the long side. I wouldn't choose to have it this small if I had the option.
 
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