Footing Material
88.9 cu yd
Base Gravel
133.3 cu yd
Est. Cost
$7,333
Typical: 3–6 inches
Typical: 4–8 inches of crushed gravel
Arena: 7,200 sq ft
$7,333
estimated material cost
Sand
88.9
cu yd (120.0 tons)
Base Gravel
133.3
cu yd (186.7 tons)
Truck Loads
19
~12 cu yd each
Water/Day
720
gallons (dust)
Does not include delivery, grading, or labor costs
Inputs
Result
A 120×60 ft arena (7,200 sq ft) with 4" sand footing needs 88.9 cu yd of sand at ~$30/yd = $2,667, plus 133.3 cu yd of base gravel at $35/yd = $4,667. Total materials: ~$7,333.
Inputs
Result
A full-size 198×66 ft dressage arena with 3" sand/rubber footing needs 121 cu yd at $85/yd = $10,285, plus 322.7 cu yd of base at $35/yd = $11,295. Total: ~$21,580.
Most horse arenas need 3-6 inches of footing over a 4-8 inch compacted base. Dressage arenas typically use 3-4 inches, while jumping arenas need 4-5 inches for cushioning. Western reining arenas may use up to 6 inches for deeper stops.
| Discipline | Footing Depth | Base Depth | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dressage | 3–4" | 6–8" | Firm sand or sand/fiber |
| Jumping | 4–5" | 6–8" | Sand/rubber mix |
| Reining | 5–6" | 4–6" | Deep sand |
| General | 3–4" | 4–6" | Washed sand |
A standard small dressage arena is 66×132 ft (20×40m), and a full-size dressage arena is 66×198 ft (20×60m). For general riding and jumping, 100×200 ft is popular. A minimum useful size for flatwork is 60×120 ft.
Arena footing material costs vary widely: plain sand runs $25-40 per cubic yard, sand/rubber mix $70-100, and premium synthetic footing $120-200+. For a typical 120×60 ft arena with 4 inches of sand, expect $2,600-4,000 in material costs alone.
The best arena sand is washed, sub-angular concrete or masonry sand with varied grain sizes (0.1-2mm). Avoid beach sand (too round, packs hard), play sand (too fine, dusty), and sharp angular sand (too abrasive on hooves). Silica content should be under 20%.
Drag your arena 2-3 times per week with regular use. Water sand-based footing daily in hot weather for dust control. Plan to top off footing annually, adding 10-20% more material to replace what compacts or migrates to the edges.
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Last Updated: Mar 16, 2026
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