Competition yards... must haves, luxuries and suggestions

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BlondeAmbition

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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
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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
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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
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All sounds good apart from the trash paddock - don't think anyone one would want to turm their competition horse out in a field full of mud. Better to have individual paddocks with restricted turn out if necessary and / or sand paddock.

Hot wash box is also nice , and heated clipping / treatment box
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The trash paddock would be an area with a surface (was thinking just sand) where people can turn out if their horses need a blast and the field is too wet. They could also put haynets in...

Sorry... a hot wash area would be a 'must have', I knew there were things I had forgotten
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I would expect to find on a competition yard:

- Spacious well ventilated stables
- A separate food store area
- A locker room
- A wash and clipping area, preferably with heat lamps for quicker drying
- two arenas, one for dressage and schooling and one for jumping, with a full set of competition jumps (Mirrors. Flood lights)
- If possible a small or however big cross country course although this is a luxury
- Plenty of paddocks
- Parking for horse boxes and vans
- Good Hacking
- Horse walker

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xx
 
sounds absolutely gorgeous- where are you based out of interest?
my dreams things would be
nice big arena with fab surface, mirrors, well lit
individual turnout, and the artificial surface t/o sounds like a fab idea
horse walker
heated area, for washdown etc
BIG airy stables
heated rug room
nice toilet facilities- for us humans
individual tack lockers
rubber flooring on walkways etc
big spacious parking for lorries etc

im sure i could think of more, re fencing, i understand your point about post and rail, have you looked in to the plastic alternatives? i dont know anything about them, but might be worth a look, i appologise if you already have
 
Thanks... the hacking is very good where the yard will be
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Horse box parking is not a problem, plenty of room.

I am not sure whether to have a feed room and separate tack lockers, or separate tack rooms with enough space for feed bins.

There is not enough room or enough money for two arenas unfortunately... plus the planning would be a bit difficult I think regarding this
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They are known for being incredibly tough to please
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Flood lights are a must for me too... I use them all of the time
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Good suggestions... thanks!
 
On this last point, separate tack rooms with enough room for feed. If there is one big feed room then you're almost certainly going to get issues with people helping themselves to others' feed. I know I would love to be able to lock my feed away!
 
Hi Blondeambition
What we have here is;
60x30 gel track sand school with all jumps flood lit (like a football pitch)
6x horse walker
12 in brick built barn stables 13x13 in size
heated rug room with own rug holders
Solarium
Equissage hire
separate feed room
separate hay room

wash down area
Individual turn out paddocks (or can share!)
big tack lockers
Hacking is brill, with only a village road to cross to get to the common
c.c.t.v
private entry onto the yard with a fob key
Toilet and a kitchen+ rest room for us humans (lol) with a kettle!! shower room t.v room
b.b.q (a must) all on tar mac very big car park with all the lorries and trailers
 
separate jumping paddock, with a course set up all the time. all-weather take-offs and landings (rubber crumb in the grass) if possible.
all stables 12x14 with rubber floors and haybars.
separate lockers for tack and feed for everyone.
showers, nice loos.
lounging room with sofas and tv for showing vids just made etc!
hot wash down for horses.
covered lorry parking. (getting greedy now!)
individual turn-out.
for fencing, Fieldguard elec, without a doubt. i've fenced 3 places now, and would go for this every time now. prob that nice pvc fencing around the arena and yard.
seawalker horse walker.
horse swimming pool.
colour spectrum horse solarium. (told you i was getting greedy!)
all-weather gallops, even if it's just 6 furlongs up a hill, would be fantastic.
music piped into arena.
small indoor arena, even 20 x 20 would be better than nothing when it's really foul.
 
Our arena has 5 inches of silica sand and 2 inches of Spring-Tek rubber and foam on top. We were lucky in that we were sent the wrong sand, it's the expensive white stuff, so paid less for it. We were also sent the wrong rubber at first so got 20 tonnes of this foam, carpet rubber stuff for free (!) that we used for the horse walker and round pen. Later found out it's the same stuff that Equestrian Direct buys off them, mixes with sand and wax and sells for £50,000 (for a 60 x 40)
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Both are fab surfaces, very pleased with them. Arena surface cost £23,000 (for 60 x 40).

I don't charge for people to book the arena for lessons, but say that they cannot book the whole of the arena between 4pm - 7pm on weekdays. Theres plenty of space for a lesson and others to ride though.

Post and railing is so so expensive, it cost £2,500 just for our arena
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We use wooden stakes with 2 strands of electric rope. Get rope NOT tape! And it is on the mains. So far all the horses are fine with it, from a 10.2 to a 17.2
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My foals were also fine with it too.
 
My must are
Big stables, with windows and ventilation
good lighting in stables and electric points near
wash down area
solarium
cross- tieing area
farrier area
seperate tack rooms (would do with a large shared one if seperate would be tiny)
Feed room (dont like keeping it with tack)
Horse Walker (Monarch)
Arena at least 50m long and min 25m wide with floodlits and to be available to book
Jumping paddock
A small indoor school for majorly horrible weather
C.C.T.V.
Alarms on tackroom
Fire alarms
Secure padlocked yard
Parking for boxes, cars etc.
Post and rail fencing at least 5ft high with electric rope on tope to stop biting, no sheep wire.
Lunging pen
Full set of jumps
Nice hacking
A room for liveries to sit in and make food, drinks, watch tv etc.

thats all i can think of for now, if i think of any more i will add them!
 
* I really want to build an indoor arena, really do, but rates are £5,000 a year for one *

You dont have to pay business rates if it only has 3 sides
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My new competition yard (just about ready to open) Has American barn with 20 stables all with top openings to look out. 60m x 30m Indoor wax surface by Andrews Bowen. 62m x 55m outdoor equivalant surface by Andrews Bowen. This will split as a 62m x 20m dressage arena for flatwork & a 35m x 62m showjumping arena. We have just bought the showjumps from Southview that were used at Bolesworth Castle & Euro trials. (they are fantastic thankyou Charles Brittain) we have hot water wash areas & solariums. Hydrotherapy, Zamar & Equissage. Turn out is P&R with electric individual or double paddocks. Individual tack & feed rooms. Lounge, shop. etc. & BTW It has nearly killed me in the process! I have never worked so hard in my life
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Will get some piccies if someone will help me to put on here
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I found out that rope does not break when my yearling got caught up in it. As a result he degloved himself exposing 4" bone, severing an artery and a tendon, fraying another tendon and there was a groove in the bone where the rope had been caught.

I think all fencing has pro's and cons to it. I have seen some very good looking pvc stuff which bends if bashed into rather than breaking. This might be worth a look at.
 
I'd have a rethink about not having a full set of jumps. Either set aside a paddock for jumping or if thats not feasible ask people to put the jumps away after use. Not everyone wants to school over a course every time they ride or school but if they SJ or event they will want to practice over a course from time to time. I do mainly gridwork when I jump but still need at least 4-5 sets of wings and enough poles for that and I probably practice over a course once a month maybe and would need at least twice that number. It only takes me 15-20 minutes or so to set the jumps out and then to put them away again at the end. (Its quite good for keeping fit too!)
 
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* I really want to build an indoor arena, really do, but rates are £5,000 a year for one *

You dont have to pay business rates if it only has 3 sides

[/ QUOTE ]

Really????
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*jumps around* Oh maybe a possible then next year
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Very true no fencing is perect. I'd have the PVC stuff, most definitely but I certainly couldn't afford to fence 40 acres into 1 acre paddocks with it
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Even though our arena is big enough to leave jumps up in I ask liveries to put them away after us as it's so hard to harrow the arena with them in there. We bought the Novice Course from Jump4Joy plus 4 more multi directional stands.
 
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But tape slices through the legs/chest and thats a lot worse
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and rope does break if they do go through it.

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i've used tape for years, never had it damage a horse at all, and i've had a few bring it down. one got her leg over the wide Fieldguard tape a month ago, i saw her do it, being argumentative with a mare on the other side, and just broke a few of the connectors onto the posts... didn't hurt herself at all (other than her pride).
 
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I found out that rope does not break when my yearling got caught up in it. As a result he degloved himself exposing 4" bone, severing an artery and a tendon, fraying another tendon and there was a groove in the bone where the rope had been caught.


[/ QUOTE ]

that is exactly what i was talking about. it is horribly strong stuff. your poor lad, that sounds horrific. did he make it? i'm guessing probably not...
 
Hi Janet
If you need a hand posting the pics give me a shout and I'll help you post them!
I'll have to come over this week to see the yard again - can't wait! (WHY ARE YOU SO FAR FROM ME?!?!!>
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Kate x
 
Thanks everyone for your comments...

It is all being taken on board, and I have just looked at the jumps _Claire_ has suggested and they look a good investment but I would lock them away so that they are well maintained and put away properly (I have had bad experiences of people treating things like this that do not belong to them with disdain).

I doubt an outdoor jumping paddock would be an option, but perhaps in summer when the ground is good one of the fields could be used for jumping.

I was thinking of the very thick tape on the fencing (sort of a hand width) with wooden posts. We will have 18 acres split into small paddocks, so I think the plastic fencing would not only be an eyesore on the land (council may have issues...) but it would also be extremely expensive to do the whole area in it. Of course, it may be an option for the arena, or normal post and rail could be used for this.

Please keep the suggestions coming
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of all the elec tape types, i've tried a lot of them, and Fieldguard really is the easiest to put up, for e.g. the extending holders can be hammered straight into wooden posts... copies i bought before (without knowing they were copies!) had to be stapled on instead. the tape has lots of wire in it, very good conductor, not an eyesore at all... brown or green tape (which horses see better than white anyway) really blends in from a distance. the plastic connectors hold the tape firmly so it doesn't fray at all, it is mega-windy where i live (5 miles from The Wash, in the Fens!) and we've had no fraying at all. a friend in Devon bought cheaper stuff and after 1 year every single tape-holder had frayed the tape to the point where the wires were broken, so no current... this had all been "professionally installed" at huge cost, too, and all had to be replaced.
i have the Jump4Joy jumps too, still going strong after about 12 years, very very good value although expensive at the time! if you are going to have a pole-holder anyway (off the ground so they can't rot) then it's cheaper to get wooden poles and J4J stands and fillers, fwiw. also, a lot of people (and horses) prefer wooden poles.
 
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