Potential indoor?

[SpotsandBays]

Has anybody ever turned a dirt floored old hay/store barn into a budget indoor?
We have an old barn that’s used for storage currently, but would love to make it so it could be usable for abit of schooling/groundwork/turnout for leg stretches when the weather is mega yuck over winter.

 

[Abacus]

How big is it? Depending on size it could at least be used for walk work if it’s flat enough. Anything faster would depend on how solid the floor is and whether you can make the surface more rideable.

 

[SpotsandBays]

It’s approx 20x30m. It does have 3 supporting poles running down the “centre line” but i figure I can always wrap these with tyres or something?

 

[J&S]

I have experienced using buildings of this size and type near me in the South Hams. The barn was attached to a decent livery yard and the owner produced show horses. Her manager told me they could happily jump a single jump in there and I know it was used for small PC riders as I helped on a D Day.
The other place was at a riding school, it was part covered and part open and had the support pillars. I only rode there once for exam purposes and you just avoided the pillars! The school used it for general purpose lessons etc.

 

[SpotsandBays]

@J&S that’s promising! Im wondering about what preparations I might need to make to the ground (if any), and what surface might be best (and preferably most pocket friendly!)

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

Has anybody ever turned a dirt floored old hay/store barn into a budget indoor?
We have an old barn that’s used for storage currently, but would love to make it so it could be usable for abit of schooling/groundwork/turnout for leg stretches when the weather is mega yuck over winter.

I tried. But I decided against it, because the barn was so small, and it was the only one suitable. But it could work for you if it's the right size for the use your looking for xx

 

[Gloi]

We had a barn like that at one place. The floor was old shavings from mucking out. Did get very dusty in summer though.

 

[reynold]

Are you currently subject to 'business rates' (non-domestic rates)? If you are or if a neighbour 'snitches' on you then indoor schools are very expensive for annual rates payable.

You'd probably be OK if the barn was deemed to be within the curtilage of the dwelling but if your stables is separate to your house you would be liable.

 

[Gloi]

if you still use the barn for other things like putting a few sheep in at times and storing the tractor at night hopefully it's still agricultural.

 

[sbloom]

I think it depends on the work you do - if you do groundwork and lots of ridden stability work in walk and collected gaits they're invaluable.

 

[EventingMum]

You would be best levelling and compacting the floor and then adding your surface, ideally with a membrane to stop any stones coming up.

 

[SpotsandBays]

@Gloi ahh shavings is a good idea! Shame that I’m cheap and use straw to bed down on lol!

 

[SpotsandBays]

@reynold it’s located on a small holding (where we live). The barn has been there for years and realistically the only real change id be making would be adding some type of surface, however i imagine I’d only use it during the winter and would pop machinery etc in there during the rest of the year. My neighbours are nice, we’ve been here for years! And I guess people would only know it was used as a school if they actually came into the property went in the barn?

 

[SpotsandBays]

@sbloom it would just be so nice to have a dry area to work in over winter. My lot basically get the entire winter off because I ride in the fields which are usually too wet to do much in (too slippy, also don’t want to trash the ground). At least this way I would be able to keep them lightly ticking over, have somewhere dry (and enclosed!) for groundwork/schooling. Also the added bonus of having somewhere to Chuck them when I’m mucking out in the awful weather!

 

[SpotsandBays]

@EventingMum it’s pretty compact and level as it’s been used to store machinery for years (previously hay) however does have some stones that would need removing

 

[SEL]

I think it's a great idea

 

[dottylottie]

size wise, i would think a small arena is better than no arena! especially for light schooling. even if you find it too small to ride in, somewhere dry to chuck them when you’re mucking out will be a godsend

 

[ycbm]

It’s approx 20x30m. It does have 3 supporting poles running down the “centre line” but i figure I can always wrap these with tyres or something?

That's huge. I turned a 12x27 shed with a concrete floor into an indoor and rode in it for many years until I put in a bigger outdoor. No worries, just pad the central pillars well.

 

[ycbm]

Are you currently subject to 'business rates' (non-domestic rates)? If you are or if a neighbour 'snitches' on you then indoor schools are very expensive for annual rates payable.

You'd probably be OK if the barn was deemed to be within the curtilage of the dwelling but if your stables is separate to your house you would be liable.

Very good point! Mine was within the curtilage - less than 5m from the house.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I think it's a great idea

Now to persuade dad…

 

[ycbm]

Now to persuade dad…

Don't tell him

 

[SEL]

Now to persuade dad…

He doesn't need cows any more - just slip a surface in when he's busy one day

 

[SpotsandBays]

Trying to decide on a nice pocket friendly surface! Would woodchip be suitable for an indoor? I know it mulches if out in the weathers…

 

[Hallo2012]

Trying to decide on a nice pocket friendly surface! Would woodchip be suitable for an indoor? I know it mulches if out in the weathers…

no it will be really slippy and dusty.

silica sand topped with carpet fibre or something lightly waxed would be ideal, you might find the latter second hand on FB?

 

[Pippity]

I learned to ride in an indoor school with support pillars down the middle. They all had tyres round them, stacked up to about five foot. Good luck!

 

[SpotsandBays]

no it will be really slippy and dusty.

silica sand topped with carpet fibre or something lightly waxed would be ideal, you might find the latter second hand on FB?

Ahh that’s a shame.. I was hoping if it was chipped small enough that it wouldn’t be too bad.
I’ll keep an eye out on facebook for second hand surfaces. Don’t need anything too fancy, especially if we park machinery on it when not in use lol

 

[ponynutz]

size wise, i would think a small arena is better than no arena! especially for light schooling. even if you find it too small to ride in, somewhere dry to chuck them when you’re mucking out will be a godsend

This - we made our tiny sand arena bigger and still found it too small so now is winter turnout lol. Still serves a good purpose and was worth the money.

 

[meesha]

I had carpet fibre outdoor arena, no sand. V dusty in summer. I would think rubber or something that doesn't chuck up dust would be preferable as v dry and enclosed !! No drainage required so just a surface just be carefully it doesn't move around on the ground below making it slippy !!