Indoor riding arenas and equestrian buildings in Scotland
A Scottish winter can mean months of riding in the dark, the wet or not at all. An indoor arena changes that. Forge & Frame delivers steel-frame indoor arenas, stable blocks and combined equestrian buildings across the Lothians, the Scottish Borders, Fife and Perthshire, from groundworks to handover on one contract.
What we build
- Indoor riding arenas, from private schooling arenas to larger livery and competition spaces
- Stable blocks and American barns, with internal stables inside a steel-frame building
- Combined buildings, with an arena, stables, tack room and storage under one roof
- Hay, feed and machinery stores to go with them
Clear spans and headroom
An arena needs a large, column-free floor and enough height to ride safely, including jumping. Steel portal frames are well suited to this. They span wide without internal columns and can be designed for Scottish wind and snow. Typical design questions:
- Riding surface size. Common arena sizes for schooling and dressage, plus space for kickboards and a viewing area.
- Eaves height. Enough clear height for riders and jumping, with lights and gutters out of the way.
- Kickboards. Timber or other kickboards, to a suitable height, fixed to the frame.
- Light. Rooflights and wall panels, or open sides with spaceboarding or mesh for light and air.
- Ventilation and condensation. Stables and arenas need good airflow to keep horses healthy and reduce condensation on the roof.
- Surface and drainage. The arena surface and sub-base are a specialist job. We plan the groundworks to suit your surface supplier.
Read our indoor arena cost breakdown for what drives the cost.
Planning: equestrian isn't agricultural
This catches many people out. In Scotland, keeping horses for riding isn't usually treated as agriculture for planning purposes. That means equestrian buildings generally can't use the Class 18 permitted development rights that many farm buildings rely on, and usually need a full planning application. Councils will look at siting, size, design, landscape impact, access, lighting and drainage.
Building warrant rules are different from planning too. The agricultural exemption from building warrants may not apply to equestrian buildings, so check with your council's building standards team. Read do farm buildings need a building warrant?.
How it works
- Enquiry. Tell us the site, what you want to build and a rough size.
- Budget figure. We come back with a budget price [CONFIRM: pricing turnaround].
- Design and consents. Layout, engineered design, planning drawings and building warrant support.
- Groundworks. Site prep, foundations, sub-base and drainage.
- Frame and envelope. Steel frame, roof and wall cladding, by our fabrication and erection partner [CONFIRM: name Hepburn Fabrication publicly?].
- Fit-out. Kickboards, doors and the elements agreed in your scope.
- Handover. With drawings and documents.
Where we work
The Lothians, the Scottish Borders, Fife and Perthshire.
Pricing
Every arena and stable building is priced from your site and spec. Guide price: [PRICE: Iain to confirm]
Equestrian building FAQs
Do I need planning permission for an indoor arena in Scotland?
Usually, yes. Equestrian use isn't normally treated as agriculture, so permitted development rights for farm buildings generally don't apply. Expect a full planning application.
Can you build stables inside the same building as the arena?
Yes. Combined arena and stable buildings are common. Ventilation and fire separation need careful planning.
Will the arena need a building warrant?
Possibly. Check with your council. The agricultural exemption may not apply to equestrian buildings.
Do you lay the arena surface?
We prepare the groundworks and drainage. The riding surface is normally laid by a specialist arena surface supplier [CONFIRM: in scope or by others].
How big should my indoor arena be?
It depends on what you ride and how many horses use it. Common schooling and dressage sizes are a good starting point. We'll talk it through.
Which areas do you cover?
The Lothians, Borders, Fife and Perthshire.
Get a price for your arena
Send us the site postcode, the arena size you have in mind and whether you want stables included. We'll come back with a budget figure and next steps.