Suggestions on watering an indoor arena. Water truck at this point isn’t an options so looking for sprinkler recommendations.
I would consider burying pipe around the perimeter and using rotary sprinkler heads at suitable spots around the perimeter adjusted for full coverage of the riding surface. This would not work for all indoor arenas which is why a picture of yours would be of great help.
I have nothing fancy. I have a hose that attaches to the outdoor hydrant, and runs under the wall of the arena, and along outside the outer fence. The hose is tied to the fence at the mid point, and from there, it extends to either end of the arena, and everywhere inbetween. I move it by hand, leaving it for 20 minutes or so at each spot along the way. The sprinkler gets as far as the wall from a position along the center line of the arena. It’s a cheap and easy method of watering for me. Only works in non-freezing temperatures of course, but that suits me fine. The hose is just garden hose, from Costco. The sprinkler is one that does a circle, the diameter of the arena’s width.
I’d be quite hesitant to bury pipe and sprinkler heads in an arena with regular horse traffic.
I’ve seen several with pipe and sprinklers run along the walls about 8’ high, or from the rafters.
I assume a pedestrian walkway around the perimeter where pipe would be buried, not in the riding surface itself.
There are, obviously, many different designs of indoor arenas, budgets, and desires. I am picturing an upscale arena where riding clinics with riders and auditors take place.
Speaking of pictures OP, got one to post?
being overhead sure makes it easier to winterize
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I look forward to reading responses on this topic. When we acquired a property with an indoor, I tried several different kinds of sprinklers and was never able to get even coverage without a puddle right where the sprinkler was. So I spend 1 1/2 hours a week watering the ring by hand. I can adjust to drier areas etc, and it’s my meditation time. So a win win!
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Right now I’m just moving around a garden sprinkler to like 8 quadrants in the indoor. Was hoping somebody had a sprinkler with more firepower so I could limit that to 4 sections.
I do like the idea of installing a sprinkler system but that will be down the line. Need more of an immediate solution.
I have a 75x200 outdoor ring and use this:
It covers the width of the arena in one pass. It takes three different placements to cover the entire length, but that is with some overlap. It does a good enough job for me. I don’t even have great water pressure so I leave it in one spot for an hour each time.
It did take some fiddling around to figure out how to adjust the settings but it’s not bad.
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