[QUOTE=baysandgrays;8192947]
Thanks for the replies. Let me give a bit more info. I can’t skip fencing because it is going to reside inside our pasture. I have one horse who doesn’t respect anything but solid fences, so I will have to fence in some way to keep them out.
We live out in the middle of nowhere, and the cost of trucking in the machinery and materials is crazy high. I’m looking at 18k for the grading and dirt fill alone. Granted, that’s just one quote, but I don’t have many options as few people are willing to come this far for work.
We can expand over time, but I’m wondering just how feasible it is at the end of the day, especially given how much work it will require. I was thinking I’d ask the contractor to give me an estimate at 80x150. I don’t know how much it will save, but it might give us fencing. Yes, it’s smaller than I want, but right now I have nothing but pasture and yard, and nowhere even moderately flat to do any decent flat work. Jumping is secondary to the flat work, and I don’t need to set up anything more than a few schooling jumps.[/QUOTE]
Well, I’m in the minority, but I think it’s expensive–so you have my sympathy. One of my friends just did dirt work for a roping arena 300’ x 100 or 150’ (I forget, it’s huge) and it was $4,500. Just the grading of course. They had a road company do it. I think there was a 7’ height variance from one side to the other, but they could use dirt on-site.
My other friend put in her standard dressage ring (granted, this was about a decade ago) and had the county grader do the base. I swear she said he charged her $500. I about died. I need to find this person, but I’m in the wrong county. 
I told her that was the deal of a lifetime. I’m guessing it wasn’t laser leveled, but it rides very nice.
The absolute minimum width (inside the fence) I would want is 80’. 150’ length is the shortest I’ve rode in that was useful, imo, but personally, I really want a full dressage ring length.
