Ideal (but not bank breaking!) size for outdoor menage?

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Pippin79

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We are looking to put in an additional outdoor menage for use by liveries, our own horses and to hire out. We'd also like to hold clinics and unaffiliated SJ and dressage events, and maybe progress to a little more if this works out well!

We currently have a 50 x 25 sand and rubber menage, but the problem is it is very close to our neighbouring boundary and as such has quite a lot of planning restrictions (such as times of day can be used and only by resident horses).

Several years on, we would like to build an additional school big enough to hold competitions in, but can't afford the spend an astronomical amount. Have been getting some quotes and advised to go 60m long as then able to hold affiliated dressage in the future, but any ideas re width? Do you think 30m is wide enough?

Also, are waxed surfaces worth the additional money? They add about £15,000 onto the price of a 60m-30m, but obviously if you're expecting the public to pay to use it, you need something pretty good! I am not sure if best to go bigger non-waxed (but with a good non-waxed surface) or smaller and waxed! :confused:

Would really appreciate any advice re good (or bad) ideas and experiences as terrified of building, and then wishing I'd done it differently!!
 
Well, to have a 60 x 20 arena in it, surely you need to go 80 x at least 30, so you can trot round the outside all the way round? And for jumping, as big as you can afford. I wouldn't go less than 80 x 40 for a proper set up - following my lottery win, that would be...
 
If you're wanting to have a 60x20 dressage arena then ideally you'll need 65x30 to allow space around the outside. If you could push to 35 the extra width makes a big difference with setting up courses for jumping too. Regarding the surface I have always been told that there isn't as much benefit to a waxed surface outdoors - it's not worth the huge price difference anyway! I like good sand/fibre mixes but whatever you decide the main thing is getting decent sand and maintaining it properly. :)
 
60x30m is a perfectly good size for unaff showjumping. My friend ran her comps in one that size upto 1.20m with very good courses. A local centre to her runs BSJA upto 1.40m in 60x30m.
 
I wouldnt bother with waxed. Manege wood chippings give a good surface and are cheap enough to be topped up every few years if need be.
 
brighteyes said:
Well, to have a 60 x 20 arena in it, surely you need to go 80 x at least 30, so you can trot round the outside all the way round? And for jumping, as big as you can afford. I wouldn't go less than 80 x 40 for a proper set up - following my lottery win, that would be...
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You do not have to trot around the outside of the arena before starting your dressage test. BD rules state that if it is not possible to trot round the outside you are allowed to enter the arena before the bell goes, it is then your choice whether to start your test from inside the arena or to leave it and re-enter. This seems to be good enough for the pros who compete at Addington Manor.

However for jumping I would recommend going for at least 30 m wide.

I doubt you could recoup the cost of a waxed surface. Most people are more than happy to complete on a well maintained sand and rubber surface.
 
JoBird said:
I wouldnt bother with waxed. Manege wood chippings give a good surface and are cheap enough to be topped up every few years if need be.
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Sorry but I would not pay to compete on a wood chippings surface. I have seen too many horses slip on them to want to risk any of mine.
 
Great, thanks everyone, that's been a great help.

Eggs, I agree re woodchip, we had a woodchip school about 10 years ago and ended up having to empty it and start again about 6 months later.

Definitely going to look at all the good spec rubber and fibre mixes.
 
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