Competition yards... must haves, luxuries and suggestions

[Tiffany]

Regards arena surface, I think if I was having one I'd have Geltrack (sp?)

On a competition yard, I would expect a washroom, horsewalker, rug drying area and hopefully a heated tackroom? (Maybe that's considered a luxury?)

Sounds like you have most things covered.

 

[FRESHMAN]

Ooh Kate you can take piccies & post them for me. I am so excited. (wanders into a corner mumbling smartarse) LOL You are a love

 

[Equus Leather]

This is a very interesting thread.

I have one query though, will you be offering DIY livery?? If not, then I figure you wouldn't need individual feed bins as surely feed would be included in the price (bar extras and supplements)....

 

[FinkleyAlex]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi all, following on from my post the other day, I was wondering whether I could get a bit more advice from those on a competition yard, and those who own a competition yard

I have started looking at arena surfaces (very important to me for personal reasons) and so far seem quite taken with the unwaxed surfaces based on silica sand, fibres and rubber. I would LOVE a waxed surface, but it is a huge outlay and I think the others seem very interesting.

So far I have samples from Andrews Bowen and have requested one from Softrack and Martin Collins... has anyone had much experience with surfaces from these companies?

Also, I was wondering whether people would mind giving me a list of must haves on a competition yard, luxuries and any suggestions you may have.

The things I have outlined as 'must haves' are:
60x20m outdoor arena with mirrors
Horse walker
Trash paddock if the weather is bad in the winter
Jumps (although will not be a huge amount for courses etc. as I think this makes it difficult for others to school when some liveries have full courses up)
Booking arena for lessons only (at an additional small fee)

The things I have outlined as 'luxuries' are:
Equissage hire (which I already have)
Solarium in a stocks
Lunging pen (this depends on space)
Individual tack rooms (again, depends on space)


I have also been thinking about the fencing... I am a huge fan of post and railing, but I have also seen it chewed to death and a horse jump out and seriously injure itself when the wood snapped and stuck into the horse

So, I have also been considering posts and the thick electric fencing in four strands.

Any other suggestions guys?

Honestly, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the posts that have already been made and the PMs that I have been sent

[/ QUOTE ]

All of our surfaces are Martin Collins and they are excellent, horses bounce on them and go really well. However I have noticed that they tend to need more maintenance than our old menage which was another type of rubber/sand mix. Agree that a trash paddock is not too important, I'd much rather have individual everyday turnout so my horse would not need to trash anything! Better off getting a lunge pen and using that as a paddock for lami's/lames etc if needed. I think for a competition yard it's incredibly important to have a full set of showjumps, at my yard none of the liveries ever get the full course out (too much effort) but we have a SJ who comes once a month and puts a course out so we can practice courses. Horsewalker is essential of course. In terms of lessons, at our yard we have a weekly calendar and can fill in who's having a lesson and in which school, liveries can ride during lessons but will usually try to avoid them, we're lucky we have an indoor and outdoor school and they are never used at the same time! For fencing definitely post and rail, electric fencing will prevent 'grass is greener on the other side' syndrome and prevent chews. They are also incredibly durable. A wash bay is a necessity, hot water is a luxury (that we don't have yet :'( ) and I'd love to get an equissage and solarium here aswell, maybe all in good time! Other than that your plan sounds fab