Characterization of indoor arenas through an anonymous survey.
Abstract: Equine farms are building both stables for the horses to live in and additional facilities to train and work horses (Kidd et al., 1997). For many of these farms, an outdoor arena that has an all-weather footing is the first working facility built. During inclement weather the ability to train in the outdoor arenas is inhibited, which in turn means the trainers, riders, and farms lose income as money is only made when horses are working, training, and competing. Indoor arenas allow for horses to continue to be worked no matter the weather conditions. The equine industry contributes a total of $122 billion dollars a year to the United States' economy. The expenditures to build and maintain these arenas the horses utilize for training and work are a portion of the equine economic contribution (American Horse Council Foundation, 2018). During the summer of 2018, an anonymous online survey was conducted to begin to characterize indoor arenas. Owners, managers, and riders were questioned on a variety of topics including arena construction and design, arena usage, footing type, maintenance practices, environmental concerns, and potential health issues experienced within the facilities. Respondents in the study defined indoor arenas differently depending on geographic region, however most definitions included a roof, some enclosure, and footing in order to work the horses. In addition, of the 335 respondents of the survey, 71% or 239 respondents reported having concerns about the environment within the indoor arena. The three main concerns are dust, moisture, and lack of air movement. Overall, the survey begins to build our understanding regarding these facilities and provides the framework to continue research in the future.
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.
Publication Date: 2021-10-09 PubMed ID: 34761167PubMed Central: PMC8576445DOI: 10.1093/tas/txab198Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article is about a survey designed to gather information about indoor horse riding arenas, with questions that covered aspects like design, usage, maintenance practices, and potential health issues.
Research Purpose and Context
- The paper discusses a study aimed at understanding the use and maintenance of indoor arenas at equine farms. These indoor spaces are crucial for horse training during inclement weather, contributing to the thriving equine industry in the U.S. which generates $122 billion annually.
- Indoor arenas play a significant role in maintaining the revenue flow as horses can continue training and working, which is not possible in outdoor arenas during harsh weather conditions.
Methodology
- To gather data, the researchers sent out an anonymous online survey during the summer of 2018. The survey aimed to characterize the nature and maintenance of indoor arenas.
- The survey was targeted at owners, managers, and riders of horses. The questionnaire covered a wide array of topics, including arena construction and design, usage, type of footing, maintenance practices, environmental concerns, and potential health issues within the facilities.
Findings and Observations
- Even though the definition of indoor arenas varied among respondents based on their geographic locations, most of them comprised a roof, some enclosure, and a specific footing used for horse training.
- Out of 335 total respondents, a majority (71%) expressed concerns about the indoor arena environment. These worries were majorly about dust, excessive moisture, and inadequate air movement.
Implications and Further Research
- The findings from this survey provide a foundation for a deeper understanding of indoor arenas and how they’re managed.
- The researchers suggest that these results can be used to guide further studies on indoor arenas, particularly addressing the environmental concerns raised by the respondents such as dust, moisture, and lack of air movement. This would ultimately improve the conditions of these training facilities and consequently the overall wellness of the horses.
Cite This Article
APA
McGill S, Hayes M, Tumlin K, Coleman R.
(2021).
Characterization of indoor arenas through an anonymous survey.
Transl Anim Sci, 5(4), txab198.
https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab198 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, 128 CE Barnhart Building, 1398 Nicholasville Rd, Lexington, KY40546, USA.
- Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, 128 CE Barnhart Building, 1398 Nicholasville Rd, Lexington, KY40546, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Kentucky, 720 Sports Center Drive, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, 613 W.P. Garrigus Building, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
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Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Keener MM, Tumlin KI. The Triple-E Model: Advancing Equestrian Research with Perspectives from One Health. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 16;13(16).
- Kic P, Wohlmuthová M. The Indoor Environment at the University Equestrian Facility in the Autumn Semester: A Case Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 18;15(22).
- Share ER, Mastellar SL, Rumble JN, Eastridge ML. Ohio horse industry survey: feeding and housing management practices. Transl Anim Sci 2025;9:txaf072.
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