A few years ago, I was teaching riding lessons at a barn in Houston, Texas, when a hurricane came through. As you can imagine, the yards and pastures surrounding the barn were soaked, and the outdoor arena looked like a deep, albeit sandy, lake. In this situation, the indoor arena was a savior.
Since some of our retired horses lived in their pastures rather than in stalls, the hurricane essentially rendered them homeless. We had to set up temporary stalls so they would be safe from the water, and the only place we could safely do that was the indoor arena.
Dry as a bone, and perfect for temporary stalls.
This is only one reason among many why you must have an indoor arena. This isn’t a “might be nice” or “maybe someday” investment; if you teach riding lessons, you need an indoor arena as soon as possible.
Torrential Rains Ahead
In the above-described situation with the hurricane, teaching riding lessons and schooling our horses were the furthest things from our minds. But I think we can all agree that a plain-Jane rain storm is inconvenient as well.
When you have an indoor arena, you can teach riding lessons regardless of the weather, so long as there isn’t any thunder or lightening. It can actually be quite soothing to ride in an indoor arena while it’s raining outside, and you don’t have to wait for the outdoor to dry up.
Common business sense dictates that you can make more money as a riding instructor if you don’t have to cancel lessons every few weeks. Your students are happier and the money continues rolling in.
Plus, you don’t have to mess with annoying make-up lessons that totally screw up your schedule.
Then the Sun Came Up
In Texas, and in other areas of the world, sunlight can be as much a blessing as a curse. The summer months are scorching hot, and both humans and horses can suffer debilitating sunburns when exposed for too long.
Not to mention heat exhaustion, compromised immune systems and unbearable lethargy.
If you have an indoor arena, you don’t have to schedule riding lessons at 4 a.m. or 9 p.m. just to avoid the sun’s punishing rays. Sometimes, the difference between shade and direct sunlight can be 10 or 20 degrees—your horses and your riders will thank you.
The Winds Howled
Have you ever tried to teach a riding lesson in high winds? The noise from the whooshing air is sufficient to drown out the loudest instructor’s commands, and the sand pelting you in the face can make you wonder why you don’t just move to the desert and get it over with.
Wind can be as troublesome as rain and sunlight, and an indoor arena will significantly reduce the consequences. Even if you’re teaching under a covered arena with no side protection, the wind’s effects will diminish at least slightly.
Some Riders Aren’t Fearless
An indoor arena is not inherently safer than an outdoor arena, but it makes timid students feel safe, and that’s what matters. When young or nervous students are enclosed in a smaller area with boundaries on all sides, they feel more confident.
If you don’t have an indoor arena, you will eventually lose students who do not have the confidence to ride in a large outdoor space. This will severely limit your income potential in the future.
Covered vs. Indoor
Throughout this article, I’ve referred to an indoor arena, which technically means a fully enclosed arena with walls on all sides and a roof overhead. A covered arena, by contrast, usually has fences on all sides and a roof overhead, but is open between the top of the fence and the roof.
A covered arena is far more expensive to build than an indoor arena, but offers several disadvantages. For example, a covered arena will not block wind and water nearly as efficiently as an indoor arena, and may not be as sturdy in a natural disaster.
However, an indoor arena is more practical in some areas of the world than in others. In Texas, for example, covered arenas are more common because we don’t have to deal with snow, sleet and frigid temperatures. However, a barn without an indoor arena in Alaska would be placed at a significant disadvantage.
If you are interested in building or installing an indoor arena, you have several options. You can purchase pre-fabricated structures that are relatively inexpensive and easy to install, or you can hire a construction company to build from the ground up.
Whatever the case, an investment in an indoor or covered arena is will worth the expense, and I urge you to consider it.
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About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Editor in Chief of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. Follow her EquiTips on Twitter.
Still struggling? Riding Instructor University can help! In addition to publishing these fantastic free blog posts, I also offer horse business consulting for riding instructors and other equestrian professionals. Get the answers to all your questions and we’ll conquer any obstacles you’re facing together!
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