DIY maneges

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Hollyhorse

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14 January 2007
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We want to have a manege put in and are thinking about doing it ourselves. One friend did it in the past and was thrilled with the outcome. Another friend has been telling us how much money you save doing it yourself and you can then get a better surface. She gave us numbers for all the different people needed to do the various jobs and advice on what we would need, wood type, surfaces etc. We live in a very wet area and know that drainage will be the main issue. Surely getting a local contractor who knows the area and drainage problems will be the best person to dig up etc? Does anyone have any experience with DIY maneges and any tips/advice/stories??
Many thanks!
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This is what we're doing, we're getting Farm Services in to do drainage, then our ex-farm worker to do the fencing and then buying the surface ourselves. The arena is going to be 60 x 40 and we were quoted £26,000+ from arena companies. We're hoping to do it for around £15,000.

The main thing is to get the level and drainage right.
 
We have just done our arena ourselves, and have to say it is fantastic!! Its only 40X20, sand and rubber but have been able to ride on it every day...even in all that snow and heavy rain - absolutely no bogy patches or frozen surface!

Best thing about it is that it only cost £2k to do...

My dad did most of the work, but he works in landfill, so has access to all the machinery needed to excavate etc, plus has a friend with fencing company, so got fence posts supplied cheaply as was the sand and scalpings.

Firstly, the land was flattened out with the JCB and levelled etc, and covered with scalpings and membrane. Trench was also dug through the middle to allow for drainage (big pipe put in). Fencing was then put up, and then 5 inches of silica sand spead on top. Lastly, ordered rubber from H&H advert (was only £50 a tonne) and we all spead that out ourselves using rakes. My dad seemed to know what he was doing, and has done an excellent job. Admittedly he did use a lot of favours from work contacts, but even without all that could get it done for less than 5k....keep on telling him to giveup work and build a few more as took less than 2 weeks to do!!

If you want more details, feel free to PM me as i may not have alll the technicalities correct!!
 
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