In simple terms yes. Its always advised to seek the permission from your local planning authority before starting an arena build but don't be put off, here at Joseph Davidson we can assist you from the planning stages through to completion, its not as tricky as you think!

Our team are constantly on the road and thats what we love most! We offer all of our services Nationwide.

This is probably the most asked question and its the most important too! The price of an outdoor arena build is based on a few factors such as: Arena size, location, ground and of course your choice of surface. However we always ensure to visit the site to go over every aspect of the potential arena build to be able to give an exact quotation. As an example for those looking for a "ballpark figure" a 20 x 40 arena with a silica sand fibre mix surface starts at £28,600 plus vat.

There are a number of considerations to take into account for e.g:

1. Direction in which the building will be facing to avoid prevailing winds and driving rain.

2. Location of the building - the further away your stables are from services will be more costly.

3. Accessibility - How accessible is the building not just for the building phase but all year round?

4. Elevation - Finished heights? These should be professionally advised by the groundworks company.

5. Ground Conditions - Again something the groundworks company should be considering - top soil depths, sub soil structures, drainage etc to be able to understand the required excavation depth and sub base structure build up to ensure the stable base is substantial and built to last. One of the main problems with this is subsidence and immediate cracks in the concrete if this is not adhered to correctly which in turn will effect the building.

6. Concrete used for agricultural and equestrian uses should be a minimum of a C40 mix to ensure it can withstand the erosion from the ammonia and also we strongly advise reinforcement such as reinforced fibres or mesh.

7. The concrete finish! We offer many different options such as: tampered finish, fine brushed finish (Most popular choice), easy float finish for hay stores/muck bays or prep for us to install rubber matting, power floated finish and other options to consider are patterned concrete for walkways and corridors.

When helping our customers choose the correct surface we often ask the following:

Is the surface for an Indoor or an Outdoor? - Different surfaces work better in different environments, you may want to consider a waxed surface for an indoor to ensure low maintenance.

What will the surface be used for? - If your a private yard and the footfall is generally low you might consider an economical silica sand and fibre mix however if you are a busy showjumping yard you will likely chose a waxed fibre surface that can withstand the use with low movement and low maintenance features to get the best out of your arena.

Budget - This is a huge deciding factor for most yards. The higher end of the pricing bracket is your pre mixed wax surfaces which require minimal maintenance, low movement, low to zero surface loss and extremely long lasting whereas your economy range usually a silica sand and fibre mix equally look amazing they take a little more maintenance such as regular harrowing, watering and top ups when necessary (depending on how heavy the use is and the weather which effects surface loss). Do not be put off thinking you cannot achieve the arena of your dreams because of this, we have many options that we can offer you! Did you know that you can save significantly by purchasing the silica sand and fibre separately and have us mis it on site rather than purchasing the pre mixed option?

Location - This is an important factor as location/weather conditions can really effect the choice of surface you decide on. Wind is never a welcoming thing but knowing this there are things you can consider to prevent surface loss such as higher kick boards, waxed surface options, irrigation options and so on.

Preference - You may have a preferred surface you enjoy riding on or have competed on, its always a great idea to speak to people for recommendations. We can help you no matter what your preference or choice may be, we work alongside some of the countries most renowned surface manufacturers.

This all depends on discipline, use, space available and budget. We find that most private yards that just like an arena to school in and pop the odd fence a 20 x 40 works a treat, however if your looking to be building a full course of jumps the most popular size would be 50 x 35.

Top Tip: Mark out with spray paint the different arena sizes in the location you plan to build, this will give you a visual feel for sizing.