Cheap indoor arena

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coen

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Does anyone have any advice or contacts for building a cost effective covered or partially covered arena?
It would just be for my own personal use at home with my two horses so doesn't need to be anything fancy or high spec just functional.
The spot we are in is quite exposed to the elements so I think my riding would still be really limited if I went for an outdoor.
Budget wise wouldn't be looking to go over £40k

Thanks
 
for £40k you might be able to put a roof on it, so open from top of fence to roof. in a way thats best of both worlds too as they can see more and feel the weather a bit but the roof will keep the biblical rain off!

perhaps talk to someone who puts up agricultural buildings? we were going to cover half our outdoor and im sure the quote was £40k which for us was too much (we arent that exposed so no desperate need).

ETA i dont think your £40k will get you the drains, membrane, surface AND roof..............£40k was pretty much just to build the roof!
 
Damn that is an expensive roof, I am sure there has to be a way. Some of the previous livery yards I have been on have had indoors of sorts and I am sure they wouldn't have had a spare £100k.
Surely if farmers are building haybarns ect they arent that expensive? Might be my wishful thinking??
I have heard steel structures are expensive so wondered about cement blocks ect so if any one has any ideas or has seen something useful let me know.
 
What about a Coverall/Clearspan arena?

If you are starting from scratch then do not take shortcuts on the drainage/membrane/surface. I matters not one jot how many horses are using it, but a cheap arena will cause you grief and you will end up spending more money in the end.
 
Oscar said:
Silly question alert but why do you need good drainage on an indoor? Surely the idea is to keep it dry?!!
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:D Not a silly question! you would be right - I was working on the assumption that OP had £40k in total to spend so was never going to be able to build an indoor on that budget :)
 
Oscar said:
Silly question alert but why do you need good drainage on an indoor? Surely the idea is to keep it dry?!!
Click to expand...

Horses piss.

More seriously, given the OP's budget, a fully indoor is going to be a challenge - but an arena with just a roof isn't going to stop rain from coming in. So it'll still need drainage.
 
Reckon I would built a really good outdoor and get some decent waterproofs. You're not going to get a decent indoor for 40k.

Unless you went for a massive poly tunnel type affair. Not sure what the cost of that would be!
 
FfionWinnie said:
Reckon I would built a really good outdoor and get some decent waterproofs. You're not going to get a decent indoor for 40k.

Unless you went for a massive poly tunnel type affair. Not sure what the cost of that would be!
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I agree with this, good outdoor with great drainage in as sheltered area as possible.

I'm in a windy and wet area too, my arena is on the top of a hill but sheltered down one long side (prevailing wind side) by a tall hedge, short sides by a bank dug out when levelling the ground and the other end is the stables.
 
Thanks guys I will consider the clear span and see what that comes out as. I may also get a few builders round and see what that comes out as.
Some of the agricultural companies have barns for under £20k so I am wondering if customising one of those could be an option? Proportion wise those are fine.
Can anyone let me know what goes into the surface on an indoor, is drainage required? if not what is?
 
You can buy 2nd hand barns/agricultural buildings - including the steel frames - for a lot less than your budget, which will leave some spare for cladding and surface. Ebay is a good start. Also, http://www.usedbuildings.co.uk

Just a reminder, though, that planning may be an issue - many councils have many different opinions on 'own use' and business rates.. My husband did some research on this for our own means, which I subsequently turned into an article for one of the publications I work on. It's the article called 50 Sheds for Hay.

http://www.valemuslaw.com/wp-conten...or-Hay-Business-Rates-at-Work-and-at-Home.pdf
 
That is brilliant thank you very much.
Just wondered if putting it in as a hay barn for planning would be easier? Could always use a section as a store if needed.
 
You might get reduced rates if it wasn't hay for horses. But something that size is going to draw attention to itself and if you make a slight 'oversight' on your planning application, you could get into big trouble. I would suggest you ask a planning specialist.
 
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