indoor arenas - dog exercise?

Laureltree

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 October 2015
Messages
72
Visit site
Does anyone here know of equestrian arenas that run dog exercise sessions?

We're contemplating running before or after work dog exercise sessions at our indoor. Only thing is, it would have to be for groups of dogs to make the costs work, as we need to hire it for £20 for 30 minutes to make it worth our while. I don't suppose individual owners will be wanting to pay £20, but if 4 friends hired that would work maybe...

Grateful if anyone has experience of doing this, please share your thoughts? x
 

SDMabel

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 December 2022
Messages
299
Visit site
I cant comment on the experience side of renting one out for dog use, but having worked as a dog walker and had a field we used and rented out - i would just be wary about the smell of dog wee sticking around in an indoor?

It was bad enough in a field on any stone/ sand areas by the gate really stunk come hot weather (probably wont be too bad if you don't have many using it ) .

Also policing people picking up their dog poo was a right pain in the backside , it would really have to pay to outweigh the complications from dealing with bookings, clearing up etc.
 

Jenko109

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 July 2020
Messages
1,746
Visit site
I hire an indoor arena with a full course of agility equipment for £10 for half an hour. Sole use.

A school on it's own, with no equipment and having to share with others, does not sound particularly appealing.

There are fenced in paddocks for hire which I would suggest are a better option for exercising dogs.
 

Laureltree

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 October 2015
Messages
72
Visit site
Thanks guys, these replies are super helpful, glad I ran it past you!

We had a few enquiries about letting dogs exercise in there over the years, but I fear like SDMabel says, there are too many pitfalls, i think I'm wise to steer clear :)
 

Surbie

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 July 2017
Messages
3,885
Visit site
On the other hand my RDA has hired its indoor to a dog agility group weekly for years with zero issues. They have a big shed for their equipment and it's been no trouble at all.

Another RS I know has started doing the same.

ETA: I think hiring via an established dog club is different to hiring to random people to exercise their dogs. I'd be fairly anti the latter as the incentives to keep the place clear and clean may be less.
 
Last edited:

ILuvCowparsely

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 April 2010
Messages
14,703
Visit site
Does anyone here know of equestrian arenas that run dog exercise sessions?

We're contemplating running before or after work dog exercise sessions at our indoor. Only thing is, it would have to be for groups of dogs to make the costs work, as we need to hire it for £20 for 30 minutes to make it worth our while. I don't suppose individual owners will be wanting to pay £20, but if 4 friends hired that would work maybe...

Grateful if anyone has experience of doing this, please share your thoughts? x
I have so many phone calls from people asking for dog agilities classes in the field or school answer always the same. NO!.

Upset the horses,
not enough parking
dog poo everywhere
dogs barking

You need to check insurance and such in case dogs injured or dog fights and liability if vehicles gets damaged or stolen in cars.
 

Abacus

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 February 2011
Messages
2,370
Visit site
A yard near us has agility courses in theirs and also does dog training to the extent that it has started to take priority as a business. It has really annoyed some liveries who struggle to use the school as it’s booked so much. So you might even slightly damage the goodwill in one business to run the other.
 

FinnishLapphund

There's no cow on the ice
Joined
28 June 2008
Messages
11,742
Location
w(b)est coast of Sweden
Visit site
To me it would make a huge difference what intended purpose that lies behind the dog owners interest in hiring the indoor arena. If it's an owner with a dog that is an avid hunter who thinks an indoor arena would be ideal for their dog/dogs to only be able to safely let off some steam in, if that's the case, even if they have a couple of dogs that can play with each other, it sounds most likely to me that the dogs will just run one or a few laps, and then start to get bored, and looking for places to mark their territory.

However, if it's one/a few dog owners, or a dog club like in e.g. @Surbie 's reply, who wants to hire it for a clear specific dog training purpose, then I can definitely see how it could work out positively.
 

Landcruiser

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 May 2011
Messages
3,203
Location
Wiltshire
Visit site
When we used to do agility with our dogs, a local agility club had a long term hire of a local indoor. There was space for them to store their stuff there - they had it 2 or 3 nights a week I think. It was also a livery yard and used by horses the rest of the time. There was another yard that did it for a while too, but I think had a parking issue and stopped.
 

MissTyc

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 June 2010
Messages
3,693
Location
South East
Visit site
A large yard local to me ended up cancelling all equestrian use of their indoor arena as the dog hire was so lucrative. £12/30 min or £20/hour, sole use with agility kit set up and other fun obstacles.
They hire from 5am to 8pm, and are so full there is about 3 months lead time to get a space!

On the downside, their liveries now hack.
 

Laureltree

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 October 2015
Messages
72
Visit site
A large yard local to me ended up cancelling all equestrian use of their indoor arena as the dog hire was so lucrative. £12/30 min or £20/hour, sole use with agility kit set up and other fun obstacles.
They hire from 5am to 8pm, and are so full there is about 3 months lead time to get a space!

On the downside, their liveries now hack.
Thanks for this - Woah, that's a lot! Are you able to tell me the name? Or private message me if poss? I'd love to look it up!
 

Melody Grey

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 April 2014
Messages
2,341
Visit site
Also take care re: business rates and planning. It might attract more traffic movements which I know can sometimes be a problem with businesses.

…and be prepared for the potential for dogs to dig up the surface- not all owners are attentive or would realise the significance.
 

teapot

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 December 2005
Messages
37,334
Visit site
The yards I worked at never let hire happen despite many regular requests as didn’t want the damage to the surface!

You’ll also need to required insurance, business rates etc
 

ihatework

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2004
Messages
22,414
Visit site
I think if you were going to do this it would need to be to an established dog club, set days/hours and with rules in parking and managing dogs/clearing up - most good clubs will have some insurance cover.
You need to consider your livery access to the facilities and also noise for neighbours.
 

MuddyMonster

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 September 2015
Messages
5,540
Visit site
Quite a few yards around us hire out facilities inc. sand schools to dog class groups or private hires.

I got the impression it was more profitable than horses in some cases!
 

Chucho

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 February 2023
Messages
154
Visit site
We did agility with a club that hired an indoor one evening a week. It was the fanciest one I've been in! Dogs were not allowed to soil inside the arena. The surface didn't look like it was particularly disturbed by the activity. It was a longstanding arrangement so must have worked for the owners.
 

Peglo

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 June 2021
Messages
4,463
Visit site
There’s a women who rents hers out to groups of dog owners to let their dogs run around. I think it must work well as she’s still advertising the dog sessions. Although she’s a bit frightening so I’m sure she keeps everyone right. 😂 I think my sister took one of her dogs and said it was really good.there’s a limited amount of dogs per session.

@ArklePig our rugby team used to book the riding centre for training if the pitches got too wet in winter. But there was no horses about when they were in 😂
 

nikkimariet

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 December 2010
Messages
5,508
Location
N/A
Visit site
I used to ride at a yard that provided this service. I could guarantee I’d have to get off and pick up dog mess that had been missed and it was usually left outside the entrance doors/on the yard too. Complete PITA in all honestly.
 
Top