Hello Everyone, I am in the process of purchasing a property with an indoor arena. The problem is the indoor arena only has a interior height of 12’. I generally ride 17h horse and have jumped around 4’ and i’m thinking that will not be enough height to continue jumping that size. The arena happens to be on a large hill and I was wondering if anyone has dug out the floor to add interior height? Do you think that would be a good idea?
What kind of foundation do you have there, pylons, a long line of concrete?
You don’t want to weaken some foundations by digging the dirt around them to lower the floor without reinforcing them.
Get thee a local civil engineer and ask if and what you can do to get more height in there?
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Are you SURE it’s 12’? That seems crazy short…the ceilings in my house are 12’.
I built my arena 2 years ago, and mine is 18’. If my 16.3 hand warmblood stood up, one of os would crack our heads on 12’…
It’s time for a geological and civil engineer to team up on a consult.
Holy cow I would run from that! $$$$$$$$$$
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We just had one out to look at the house but we didn’t even think to have them look at the arena about height. About to call some professionals today.
It looks like pylon. I am going to be calling some pros today. I was thinking worst case scenario I make it dressage only and make a large all weather outdoor arena.
It sounds like a really, really expensive idea.
If it’s correct that the indoor has 12’ ceilings, could it possibly be that it has a false ceiling that you could take out, and hopefully have clear space above? If not, I guess I would plan to use the indoor for flatwork only, and plan on saving jumping for an outdoor ring. I guess I feel like building an outdoor ring might be less expensive than excavating the current indoor.
Unfortunately I’m getting the property for a steal, and don’t want to loose this property! I’m thinking it will still be ok to ride dressage.
if it really is 12 foot, talk to some house moving companies to raise the structure rather dig the footing out.
You would need an engineering study preformed to insure the column footings are correct and can withstand the additional load… but this can be jacketed up and steel extension plates can be added to columns
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Since you bought that so cheap, if there is extra money, they may be able to pour new pylons with new, taller posts and raise the whole structure for you, keeping the same floor height you have now.
Then skirt the bottom.
Or they could, if overengineered already, sister to existing posts to raise the ceiling, trusses I assume, however many feet they can raise, say four or better six or who knows, maybe more.
Then put polycarbonate transparent panels under there, gaining daylight in there.
I wonder if the 12’ height inside there, that doesn’t make sense for an indoor arena, was because of some permitting problems on height in that location?
Do find that out also, you may not be able to have any structures higher than that one is already, why that one is so short.
Unless they were working with minis.
If you dig several feet out, be sure it won’t flood in there.
If the foundation needs reinforcing, they can do that also.
So many possibilities, depending on what you have there.
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if you dig this puppy out you might have an issue with water draining into the pit
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Guess we are thinking down the same tracks on this.
Are you sure it’s 12? How big is it? Was it originally built for a different purpose?
It was originally built for dressage. I am not sure why it is so short though, because it has a hay barn that is at least another 6’ taller. Additionally they put in super nice fiber footing and it looks like it was built about 10-15 years ago. We measured the bottom of the trusses out at 12’. We have talked to some people, engineers, about raising the roof, changing truss systems, or just building a new one altogether. Just looking at options now.
That’s my main concern. Looking at the most cost effective solution that still allows the arena to act as an arena. Luckily we are in CO and rainfall is pretty low and it’s already positioned on a hill. Waiting on feedback from our structural engineer.
I don’t think its a code or zoning issue. There is a hay building built at the same time that is at least 6’ taller. And it’s in Weld county CO which has little for building restrictions and permits… at least compared to boulder county, CO. Right now I am looking at my options of fixing the interior height. Looking at different truss systems, raising the roof, digging it out, or rebuilding. Waiting to hear back from our structural engineer about digging it out.
I would try hard for figuring a way to raise the roof itself, adding polycarbonate panels when closing the walls up there, at least as many as you can manage to add there, considering they may want some metal ones for extra strength.
What are the dimensions of the arena, the peak height?
In Colorado, that roof may be massive, with a high roof pitch and that may make it more questionable to raise it.
May be cheaper to take that roof out and build a new one, taller at the eaves.
If you build a whole new structure, consider going clear span, where the beams will follow the pitch of the roof, not trusses, that rob you of all that room up there.
If you possibly could go clear span now with a new roof, you would not even need to raise the eave’s height, clear span framing would do that for you.
Trusses for roofs are a cheaper and quicker way of building, but clear span framing is really better for arenas.
Don’t confuse clear span with fabric topped buildings.
Many do because one of those companies named themselves Clear Span.
Here, clear span means framing with beams that follow the pitch of the roof.
Your engineers will know best, but do offer them all kinds of alternatives.
Some times, they ignore some assuming from something you said that you don’t want that.
That was actually another thing we were looking at lol. The arena is a little over 150’x60’ and I believe the peak height is 18’. Thank you for all the suggestions! This is really helping me feel more confident about solutions… even though they may be expensive. It’s looking like a commercial roof lifter would charge a minimum 100k, so i’m ruling out the option, a new indoor would be a better option to that.
Ok until Pookie decides it’s rodeo time.
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I also ride a 17hh horse, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable riding him in an arena with a 12’ ceiling. That’s just way to close to my head.
