Precision Equestrian Arenas' Academy exists to give horse owners the knowledge to build safer, longer-lasting arenas. No sales pitches. No shortcuts. Just expert guidance grounded in science, experience, and a deep respect for horses and the people who ride them.
About Precision Equestrian Arenas' Academy
The Experts Behind the Arena - Meet the Team
Dickie Osborne
Dickie Osborne has been a horse owner since childhood when his uncle gave him his first pony named Midnight. At 21, he built his very first horse arena with nothing more than a backhoe and some determination. Although that first arena Dickie built over 30 years ago is nothing like the arenas he constructs and consults on worldwide today, it was a pinnacle moment that led him to become an expert.
After a long and successful career as an excavation contractor, Dickie's passion for horses and arena construction was reignited when a friend asked him to build an arena. He came to quickly recognize the need for expertly crafted equestrian arenas. So, he combines his construction expertise and attention to detail with his love for horses to create just that. Years later, he gained abundant knowledge of arena construction and saw a need to help others achieve the same success he was finding. Thus, Precision Equestrian Arenas Education was born.
Michael DePew
Michael DePew has always loved horses and livestock. He learned to ride when his parents handed him a bridle and a stud pony named Sugarfoot. His childhood memories are made of never owning a saddle and trying to ride anything he could catch.
Michael is an agronomist and soil scientist. While working on his master's at Texas A&M, a graduate project landed Michael in California at Santa Anita Park. Here, he realized he could combine his love of horses with his love of dirt and turf. His career in the equine footing industry began over 30 years ago. Since the early 90s Michael has worked in the racing industry designing footing for turf and dirt applications. Michael has designed equine footing and surfaces for rodeo arenas, reining arenas, dressage, and hunter/jumper arenas (dirt and turf). After seeing how much damage can come to horses performing on incorrect surfaces, Michael wants to educate equestrians on arena footing and assist them in selecting the appropriate blend of materials for their disciplines. Safety in footing is something he is highly passionate about.
Some additional facts about Michael are that he voluntarily serves as the subcommittee chairman for ASTM F08.28 on Equestrian Footings and is also the technical director for Safe Arena Footing (SAF), a non-profit advocacy group.
Amanda Bolyard
Amanda Bolyard has spent over 35 years in the equine industry. During her childhood, she rode Hunters, Jumpers, and pleasure horses. Her love of horses landed her in the Colorado mountains, working on a ranch as a pack trip guide, then in NY and NJ as a barn manager. She has worked horse shows all over the Northeast and was a professional groom for an Olympic rider. Amanda also rode IHSA while in college. Always seeking new learning experiences landed her in an eventing barn and finally into the sport of Reining.
Amanda holds a bachelor's degree in design. Her family's business was heavy construction, so everything surrounding the arena building process was very familiar to her. Her creative nature, detailed approach, experience on job sites, and exposure to many equine disciplines offer Precision Equestrian Arenas a unique perspective. After 8 years in the animal non-profit sector, she joined Precision. She used her marketing and design knowledge to rebrand Precision and create an educational side of the business.
