Arena Irrigation Systems: Which Option is Right for Your Arena?

Which arena irrigation system do I need?

For most private yards with moderate use, a basic overland system (AquaOver) is the lowest cost starting point. For yards needing more consistent coverage without stopping riding sessions, a programmable sub-surface system (AquaUnder) removes most of the manual input. For competition venues, livery yards or any arena in heavy daily use, HIT Active-Aqua or AquaUnder provides fully automated sub-surface moisture control with patented dripline technology and around 40% water saving compared to overland systems. The right choice depends on your arena size, usage level, budget and how much daily management you want to do.

Management of Water Resources

Despite 70% of our planet being covered in water, only 3% of the world’s water is freshwater, and two-thirds of that is hidden away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use. It is thought that climate change will bring more uncertainty and may present issues in areas that have not yet experienced water scarcity.

Less predictable rainfall will lead to increased drought risk and possible water shortages in the UK, and The Environment Agency’s estimate is that summer rainfall is expected to decrease by approximately 15% by the 2050s in England.

This highlights the requirement for arena irrigation methods that do not waste or demand high volumes of water, so we can create safe areas to ride our horses on while minimising water usage and impact on the environment.

If you want to understand the other reasons why moisture management matters first, start here.

Choosing between types of irrigation systems

Getting moisture right in an arena surface is not complicated in principle - the surface needs to stay consistently moist at depth, without dry patches, wet patches or the disruption of having to remove horses every time you water. The challenge is doing that reliably across a full arena, year round, without spending hours on it every day.

ArenaMate® offer three irrigation solutions covering the range from simple retrofittable overland systems through to fully automated sub-surface control. Here is what each one does, who it suits, and what to consider when choosing.

Methods of Arena Irrigation

The aim of arena irrigation is to create even moisture throughout the surface, to maximise safety and performance. This means keeping the water content of your surface totally consistent. 

ArenaMate® AquaOver

Arenas can be watered using above-ground sprinklers with high-pressure nozzles. The main advantage of this method is that the cost of an instalment is generally low, even with permanent sprinkler systems.

HIT Active Aqua

HIT Active-Aqua is an advanced sub-surface arena irrigation system that thoroughly and consistently hydrates the footing with a protective grid system. The computerized system maintains optimal moisture levels, preventing over-saturation and water waste.

This system can actually reduce water usage by up to 40% compared to traditional overland systems like sprinklers.