If you built an arena for personal use, has it been worth it?

Yes Owlie, there are quite a few abandoned arenas round here. There is one just up the road and I did a deal with the owner a year or so ago to use it a few times a week. But it was terrible - holes where rabbits had dug and weeds which the horse kept jumping, and I still had to get in the trailer which still added 10 minutes each way, even though it is just up the road. Very sad to see it so neglected.

Thanks for the slides nikicb, very interesting.
 
Yes, yes, yes. Ours was a modest price (18k), we did the clearing away of the topsoil and the fencing to keep the cost down. The rest was done by an arena contractor. We are on heavy clay and find it a lifesaver for turn out (we have 4). 3rd winter and not a single muddle or mushy bit. We have a 1m grass margin around ours. In some ways its a bit annoying as I find myself having to go around and rake/flick bits of rubber back in, but in winter it means that hay nets can be tied round the edge and hay doesn't fall into the surface, in the summer we use it a fatty turn out, bit like a paradise paddock.

Maintenance - now we are in the 3rd year it is much more stable, if they have been turned out on it most days it gets harrowed weekly, using a homemade gate style harrow and my ride on lawn mower. My Dad made me a tool from an old garden rake with am angled piece of board that I use to bring in the edges, I walk around the arena backwards with it. It takes about 10/15 mins max. If not used for turn out it gets harrowed about once a month

I love the fact I can go out whatever time and whatever the weather and ride.
 
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The first thing we did when moving to this property was to renovate and enlarge the existing arena which was in an unrideable state, never regretted it, its as good today as when it was installed, 12 years ago. I dont find the maintenance a problem, its mainly only me using it so only harrow when a path appears around the edge.
 
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