Indoor Riding Arena Footing Installation at Swan River Stables in Monticello

Swan River Stables came to us with a 75' x 200' indoor riding arena that needed a complete footing overhaul. The existing surface had to be reshaped before anything else could happen. Bad footing is one of those things that sneaks up on you - it looks fine until a horse trips, slips, or starts showing joint issues. Getting it right from the start is the only way to go.

Here's how we built it up. First, we regraded and reshaped the existing footing using our CAT 255 track loader with a grading attachment - that's what gives us the precision to work an indoor space this large without leaving high spots or low pockets. Once that base was properly leveled and compacted, we brought in 6 inches of aggregate base. That layer is what keeps everything stable underneath, no matter how much traffic the arena sees.

The final step was topping it off with 2 inches of our specially blended arena sand. Sand selection matters more than most people realize. Too coarse and it's abrasive on hooves. Too fine and it gets compacted and slippery. The blend we use is designed specifically for equestrian footing - it cushions impact, drains well, and holds its consistency over time. The horses noticed right away. One of them wasted no time rolling in it - that's usually a good sign.

This kind of work is exactly where our custom grading experience pays off. Working inside a building with tight clearances, grading to a precise depth across 15,000 square feet of floor space - it takes patience and the right equipment. We coordinated the material deliveries, spread the aggregate base, graded everything to grade, and finished with the arena sand. Start to finish, one crew.

Big thanks to Swan River Stables for bringing us in on this one. If you've got an arena that needs new footing or a full rebuild, this is the kind of work we do well.