Thinking Outside the Cell - Equestrian Indoor Arena

Project Background

An equestrian facility is created and maintained for the purpose of accommodating, training or competing equids, especially equines (horses).  Weather plays a vital role in determining the activity of horse riding. The riding season is limited with outdoor arenas with having to keep horses riding almost every day to keep them in top form. The Western Victorian Equestrian Facility decided to install an indoor arena to extend the riding season opportunities for its array of equines.

Problem

Horse Arenas must be manicured and cultivated to be in the best condition for riding.  They feature layers upon layers of rock, sand, and organic matter with nothing to hold it in place. When soil, sand, or stone is exposed to the elements, the particles will shift and move without proper reinforcement.

No one is surprised to learn that drainage is one of the big problems that arise in arena construction.  The Contractor wanted to ensure that adequate drainage of the arena would be addressed in order to not compromise the surface and its sub layers, which would ultimately affect ride quality.

Solution

A Horse Arena is a major investment for any horse owner/facility and getting it right from the earliest planning stages is essential.  The arena is a living organism.  In the course of the horse arena’s life, organic matter may mix with the footing material, with prolonged exposure to the elements eventually wearing down the integrity of the drainage.  Additionally, daily traffic will continue to shift and intermix the various layers of subgrade.

Nevertheless, adding support through geosynthetics such as geotextile and drainage cells objectively benefits any arena. By promoting faster and more effective drainage, drainage cells help reduce moisture and puddling after the rain. By reducing the chance of puddles forming this will ensure the longevity of the base, footing, and finally, allows the equestrian to ride no matter of the weather conditions.

The Contactor opted to install ProDrain® 50mm Drainage Cell.  Its polypropylene core is moulded into a unique profile and then wrapped in a filtration geotextile which then provides a complete void space for the water to travel horizontally without any obstruction. Its lightweight, high compressive strength makes the product ideal for common applications such as roof gardens & podium landscaping, retaining walls, sports fields, arenas & golf courses, under drains for slabs and foundations and subsurface drainage for permeable driveways and car parks. Drainage cells work best when placed in the sub-base layer, helping contain the aggregate stone from potentially migrating from its position and therefore continue to reinforce the underside of your arena’s base.

Results

ProDrain® 50mm Drainage Cell assisted in providing a firm, safe and well-drained surface for riding, exercising and competitions.

Features and benefits of ProDrain® 50mm Drainage Cell:

• High compressive strength

• Trafficable

• High flow rate

• Long life expectancy

• Easy to handle

• Quick to install

• Supplied in large panels

Even with the best care, most arenas will need to be entirely overhauled within five to ten years. Arenas that have installed geosynthetics such as drainage cell  bases, have been known to enjoy 3-4 times the lifespan of those without, requiring only the top sand layers to be refreshed and replenished over time.