Who do I contact to build the arena?

 For an outdoor arena, a competent contractor that knows how to build horse riding arenas is the best way to go. You will find a lot of bulldozer operators that will tell you that they can handle the job because, to the majority of them, it sounds like you just want to build a parking lot. A qualified arena builder knows that the ground underneath your footing must have a solid gravel base, properly compacted, with no variations in grade throughout the entire area, aside from the required minimum slope for rain runoff. A proper ride requires consistency, not only from the rider but from the riding surface as well. Compaction is key, because a galloping horse puts much more pressure per square inch on the surface underneath its hoofs than any truck or equipment will ever exert.

Indoors, the same rules apply to the dirt and gravel work. The actual building that covers the riding area is usually handled by an entirely separate contractor, experienced in building covered riding arenas, who comes in after the dirt and gravel work is done. They construct the building over the prepared surface, and when they are done, the footing that will be ridden upon is applied.

As far as where to find these specialty contractors, ask a few local barn owners whose arenas you have seen and liked. The horse construction community is fairly small and tight knit, so this would be a good starting point. Check the local classified ads and newspapers, and always ask for and check any references that prospective contractors give you. An arena is a substantial investment, and you will not want to do it twice. You need to be sure that you will be happy with the end result for many years to come.

Arena preparation...