Our outdoor arena came together by first choosing a location, arena style and size. The logical most level spot was one field strip over from the barn, keeping hay field impact and proximity to the barn in mind. It is a short walk to get to the outdoor arena, across a small wooded strip. We settled on a rustic looking brown wooden post arena, called Ponderosa Fence. The posts have rounded tops for safety & water shed. Our arena is 100' x 200' with rounded corners, and 4 brown steel metal side railings. There are two gates, with easy open top latches. A four foot (Brad wanted 6', but they don't make them for this fencing) and a larger sixteen foot gate on the far end for machinery.
Brad built our arena 97% himself, by choice. I offered to help, so did our son, daughter and even our neighbor. He wanted to work on his own, and I get it. It is a one time build, as in we have never and plan to never build another one. Unless you count snapping together panels. Sometimes it is just easier to do things yourself.
With decisions made, Brad measured and then worked with a co-worker to draw out an initial arena plan. He mowed our arena-to-be, over and over. It stayed a mowed grassy area for what seemed like forever, while we waited for supplies to arrive. Brad just kept a-mowing it.
Our outdoor arena took a little longer than expected. It was manufactured by Priefert in Texas, and as you know the pandemic has slowed everything down. It was a happy day at our place when it finally arrived!
The manufacturer made some minor adjustments to our preliminary plan, and sent us final building plans and eventually materials. That is when the fun started! Our neighbor/co-worker plotted out the arena using a fancy schmancy gizmo, and his son helped pound in stakes.
(neighbors barn in distance)
Now it was time for the hard(er) work to start!! Brad worked on the arena every chance he could, through a very hot humid August July.
One good thing about living in sand country, we didn't have to haul any sand in. We had the arena rototilled, and whala our outdoor arena was completed and ready to use early August!!
3 comments:
You are sooooo lucky to live in a sandy based area! Our place is old river bed so not a lot of soil, some rocky areas and some sandy clay areas but very little topsoil. That is a really nice design for the rails, it must look great all completed. You are also blessed to have a husband who is involved with the horses instead of just supporting your interest.
At least the darn sand came in handy for something!!
It looks beautiful! You are lucky you have sand there. Everywhere here is just rock. I couldn't even plant a rose bush because I hit so much rock! It's nice to have a husband who does all the work. We always have to find someone (who usually doesn't show up) to work on our stuff or do it ourselves (me and my daughter). Tell Brad it looks great and thank goodness Tank was there to help! And you of course, nothing gets finished until the clean up crew comes in.
Post a Comment