Equestrian centers that have an enclosed riding area provide immense value for those looking to board, ride, and care for their horses. In Montana—a state with an avid equestrian population—the construction of horse riding facilities has evolved significantly in the past 20 years, and the indoor riding facility of today offers owners and riders alike a host of benefits.
This is especially true when steel is used at the principal building material for the structure. In comparison with wood-framed, pole barn construction, steel equestrian centers are a clearly superior alternative.
Capital Steel Industries leverages our network of qualified to match prospective steel building owners with the builders they need. When it comes to the options available for those looking to build a new, steel-built indoor horse arena in Montana, there’s a sea of choices!
In this article, we’re going to explore a few of the many directions you could take if you’re considering building a steel indoor riding facility.
First thing’s first: conceptualizing a new horse riding facility is going to start with determining how large it will be. Some of the more popular sizes include:
- 80’ x 100’ – Large enough to house a training ring, feed storage, and a tack room, an 80’ x 100’ steel building can perfectly suit an equestrian center with modest needs. This size may not be the best for horse arenas that need to be complete with a tack room, shoeing areas, or connected horse stalls.
- 100’ x 200’ – Moving to a 100’ x 200’ indoor riding arena option can free you up to explore more amenities like additional equipment storage, feeding areas, horse grooming areas, and more. This building size is very popular for highly active, high-volume equestrian centers.
- 200’ x 400’ – This is the grandest indoor riding arena. This size will afford you with enough interior space to include virtually every design possibility imaginable. And, with strategic placement of oversized doors, ventilation equipment, and ingress/egress points, a 200’ x 400’ steel-built indoor riding facility can be a state-of-the-art equestrian hub for an entire state!
It’s All about the Add-Ons
Some of the premium upgrades available on many steel building can translate into much smoother operation and ease of ownership for new indoor horse riding facility owners. A well-conceived, steel-built horse riding facility is going to take into account all of the logistical and pragmatic needs of the center while also making key aesthetics choices.
The following touches the surface on some of the many finishing options that are available to you with Capital Steel Industries’ metal buildings.
Extra Insulation
The winters in Montana can be bitterly cold. For these kinds of climates, it’s crucial to insulate large steel buildings with extra material on the roof and sidewalls. Spray foam and insulated panels are two of the more popular options for this.
Shade and Lighting
Keeping the lights on in an indoor riding facility can be quite costly. Why not make use of natural skylights? Light-transmitting panels and large, generously-spaced windows can also help to achieve uniform distribution of light during the daytime.
Structural Customizations
Some larger steel horse riding arenas can have a mezzanine level integrated into them. Others are better suited for framed openings and mainframe endwalls. It all boils down to what is going to work best for those using the building.
Aesthetics
In the design of a new indoor horse-riding arena, it can be easy to lose sight of how the structure will look. As big and as bold as a new equestrian center can be, it’s all that much more important to pay attention to the cosmetic details, like:
- Color (including roof, walls, and trim)
- Siding (with or without faux stone or stucco accents)
- Cupolas
- Roof design (standing seam vs. Galvalume, etc.)
Have questions about steel horse barn or steel horse riding arena construction? Or do you want to know more about how to choose a steel building supplier? Contact Capital Steel Industries, today.
