Riding Arena Construction

A riding arena is only as good as the base underneath it. Roberts Excavation builds outdoor arenas, round pens, and dry lots for horse owners across Eastern Connecticut, working out of Plainfield and covering Windham and New London counties within about 30 miles. DJ Roberts has run the company owner-operated since 2010, and arena work is steady business out here in horse country — Pomfret, Woodstock, Canterbury, and Scotland hold some of the densest equestrian properties in the region.

A typical build starts by stripping topsoil and excavating 8 to 12 inches below finished grade. We then lay geotextile fabric and install 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed stone. That separation layer keeps the base from migrating into the subsoil under rain and hoof traffic — it is what makes footing maintenance an occasional top-off instead of a seasonal expense. Whether you ride on sand, fiber, rubber crumb, or a synthetic blend, the footing performs the way the base lets it.

Drainage decides whether an arena rides well in April or turns into a mud pit. New England brings wet springs and freeze-thaw winters, so we crown the grade, plan for surface runoff, and add French drains where the site needs them. Built that way, an outdoor arena can hold up for many years with routine footing care. Estimates are free, and we quote arena builds by square footage and drainage tier so the scope stays transparent.