Equestrian Arena Planning:
The Precision Arenas' SystemTM

Learn how to plan, design, and oversee the construction of a safe, functional, and long-lasting riding arena. From site selection and grading to drainage, basic footing theory, and water requirements for maintenance, this course gives you the practical knowledge to build with confidence—right from the ground up.
Format

Online
Course

Modules

10 Focus Areas with
49 Lessons

Authors

Dickie Osborne, Amanda Bolyard, and Michael DePew 

Price

$897
$597

Are you tired of feeling lost in the chaos of building an arena?

Are you stuck between contractor opinions, footing company claims, and expensive decisions you don’t feel qualified to make?

You know your horse deserves a safe, functional arena but figuring out slope, drainage, base layers, and footing feels like trying to speak a language no one ever taught you.

You’ve been riding for years, maybe decades. But now, facing the biggest equestrian investment you’ve ever made, you’re left second-guessing every step.

You are not alone

You’re planning to build an arena, but
knowing where to start isn’t easy.

You’ve done your research. Talked to contractors. Sat through sales pitches from footing reps.

And you’re still asking yourself:
  • Is this the right place to build it?
  • Will the slope work for drainage—or wreck it?
  • What if the base fails in six months?
  • What if I spend tens of thousands and still can’t ride on it?
You’re not building a shed. You’re building the foundation for your training, your horse’s soundness, your goals.

And no one is giving you straight, reliable answers.

Sound familiar?

The truth is, there’s a lot more to building an arena than meets the eye and getting it wrong can be costly.

The wrong material. The wrong slope. The wrong contractor.

And the worst part? You won’t even realize it until months after the check clears.


We’ve seen it too many times:

A beautiful new arena that holds water like a pond
Footing that compacts into concrete or rides like beach sand
A base that shifts or breaks apart because it was never designed correctly
Clients spending more to fix it than they did to build it
Introducing

Equestrian Arena Planning:
The Precision Arenas' SystemTM

This is the course we wish every rider had before starting their arena project. Built for equestrians who want real answers, not sales pitches. You don’t need to be an engineer - just informed. We’ll give you the clarity and confidence to make smart decisions before a single dollar is spent.

Clarity Over Confusion

Cut through conflicting advice with step-by-step guidance grounded in science and real-world experience.

Build with Confidence

Know exactly what to ask, expect, and avoid—so you can take control of your project from day one.

Protect Your Investment

Make informed choices that lead to safer footing, better performance, and long-term savings.

Imagine...

  • Feeling confident, not confused: You know exactly how to plan your arena based on your discipline, property, and long-term goals.
  • Speaking the contractor’s language: You don’t have to just “hope they get it right” - you’ll know what to ask for and what to reject.
  • An arena that drains, rides well, and lasts:
    No more standing water, surprise maintenance, or footing disasters you have to scramble to fix.
  • Avoiding thousands in unnecessary costs: You’ll stop mistakes before they happen—and build it right the first time.
  • Protecting your horse’s soundness and performance: Because what’s under their feet matters every single ride.

You don’t need to be an engineer to build a great arena - just an equestrian who asks the right questions.

What You’ll Learn

This isn’t a lecture on theory. It’s a practical guide to building an arena that performs from the ground up.

By the end of this course, you’ll know how to:
  • Choose the right site, slope, and orientation for your arena
  • Plan for drainage and moisture so your footing performs year-round
  • Understand base, sub-base, and fill—what matters, what doesn’t
  • Make footing decisions based on discipline, not guesswork
  • Stay ahead of your build and avoid costly mistakes before they even start

Course Lessons

The Arena Experts Riders Actually Trust

With decades of real-world experience and deep roots in soil science and construction, we’ve helped equestrians at every level build safer, longer-lasting arenas.. Our goal is to give riders the knowledge they need to make informed decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and create a riding surface they can rely on every day.

Michael DePew

Chair of the ASTM Committee on Equestrian Surfaces

Michael DePew is a nationally recognized agronomist and the chair of the ASTM committee for equestrian surfaces. With decades of expertise in soil science and footing performance, he’s the industry’s go-to authority for building safer, sounder arenas—based on data, not sales talk.

Dickie Osborne

30+ Years of Building Durable, Horse-Safe Riding Surface

Dickie Osborne has spent over 30 years building arenas from the ground up. A master of excavation, base construction, and drainage, he turns raw land into high-performance riding spaces built to last—because he knows shortcuts don’t belong under a saddle.

Amanda Bolyard

35+ Years of Experience

Amanda Bolyard brings over 35 years of equine experience across multiple disciplines—from hunter/jumpers and reining to managing barns and grooming for an Olympic rider. With a background in design and deep roots in heavy construction, she blends creative insight with hands-on knowledge of arena building. Amanda now leads Precision’s educational and branding efforts, combining her industry experience with a passion for equestrian learning.

Frequently asked questions

I’m already working with a contractor - will this course still help?

Yes. In fact, that’s when it can be most valuable. This course gives you the language, knowledge, and clarity to communicate effectively, ask the right questions, and spot potential issues before they become expensive mistakes whether you’re building yourself or managing others.

I’m not technical. Will I be able to understand everything?

Absolutely. This course was created for equestrians, not engineers. We explain every concept—from slope to sub-base in clear, straightforward terms. No jargon, no assumptions, just practical knowledge you can actually use.

What if I’m not building right away?

You don’t need to be mid-project to benefit. If you're in the planning phase or even just dreaming—you'll walk away with insights that will shape every decision you make going forward. You receive lifetime access, allowing you to revisit the content whenever you're ready to build.

What if I’ve already built an arena and it’s not riding right?

Then this course is still for you. You’ll learn how to assess what might have gone wrong, understand how to talk with contractors or footing reps about improvements, and plan better for any upgrades or rebuilds in the future.

Will I know what sand to use for footing after taking this course?

Our courses do not teach footing design. While we cover footing theory, including general principles of what makes a surface stable, forgiving, and rideable, it is not possible to prescribe a one-size-fits-all solution for footing material. There are thousands of quarries across the United States and hundreds of thousands worldwide, each producing sand and aggregate with unique characteristics. Even within the same quarry, the material can change over time due to shifts in the source formation. Because of this, every footing must be tested individually—we don’t guess. Footing design is a site-specific, performance-specific process that requires an understanding of particle shape, gradation, clay content, moisture retention, and other relevant factors. The knowledge we share in this course gives you the framework to understand what matters, but true footing stability is achieved through testing—not theory alone.

You don’t get a do-over on your arena.

There’s no undo button after your project is complete, the contractor is long gone, and your arena isn't performing properly.
Let Equestrian Arena Planning be your guide so you can build with confidence, protect your horse, and finally ride on the arena you deserve.
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