Lighting in an indoor arena is usually a pretty straight forward operation, due to the ease of fixture mounting from the bottom of the trusses. Outside arenas pose a problem with fixture mounting, for obvious reasons. One good way to figure out what type of fixtures you will need is to go to a local electrical supply house (the real contractors kind, not the big warehouse stores), and tell them the size of the area you want to illuminate. They will have someone on hand to figure out the best light fixtures for your needs, based on your budget. Keep in mind, though, that the estimate they come up with is usually geared towards a parking lot, soccer field, or some other use that has nothing to do with what you will be doing. You can use the information to make an educated decision, though. A lot of people use metal halide type fixtures, and this seems to work well.

 You may want to consider wiring the whole thing according to the specifications that the electrical supplier comes up with, but only purchasing a portion of the fixtures. Then, if you find more light is needed, the wiring will already be in place. If you use your indoor arena for turnout, consider putting all switches and electrical boxes outside, away from a running or just plain curious horse. This is a good idea even if they won’t be loose in the arena. As far as mounting outdoor light fixtures, this depends on the weight and design of the fixture, and again the electrical supplier will be able to help you. Just be ready for the surprise when they tell you how high to mount them, though. Usually, the higher that you go, the fewer fixtures and less wiring you will need.

Arena lighting...