Building an indoor vs. covered arena?

[Bluey]

This company has been in business of making screens for decades:

http://www.windscreensupply.net/livestock/screens-for-horses-and-cattle/

They do a good job, if someone wants to look into these screens.
They have provided screens for many covered arenas around the Dallas, TX to OK corridor horse area.

[4beats]

I’ve ridden in both indoors and covered arenas. I prefer the latter just because it dissipates dust and you can get a nice breeze in the summer time.

The downside to the covered is full exposure to cold temperatures and wind and if there is heavy snow or rain, it will make its way inside and onto the track. We are dealing with this issue at our barn right now.

[dressagegirl123]

I built a Clear Span arena in Maryland and loved loved loved it! It had fabric curtains running the length of it, which rolled up or down at the touch of a button. This did away with trapping cold or hot air in the arena. No lighting was needed because the fabric lets light through. I would HIGHLY recommend it. They are no less expensive than other indoors, but I found it much more functional. Warmer than the barn in the winter, too! I don’t live there any more, but “mine” has been up for 9 years, now.

[Showbizz]

I, personally, would go for the covered. I can’t stand riding in 4 walls day after day! There are so many options for seasonal side coverings that still let in great light and allow for airflow.

[RTF]

I have a very nice large outdoor arena, and when we decided to build a small indoor my husband suggested leaving the sides open. Well, where I live, it was a joke. If I want to ride outdoors, I will go ride outdoors. I built an indoor to shield us from the wind, weather, and to keep my footing good. We enclosed it the next year. Now, one cool thing we did was put in livestock clear curtains that could be rolled up or down depending on the weather. They let in a lot of light, and are great at desensitizing the horses to a bit of a rattle. They are what many of the chicken farmers use for additional ventilation. So I would say it ultimately comes down to your weather for where you are at. Even with a four foot kickwall, I wanted it fully enclosed.