Setting up a project for an equine structure

The site should be chosen with great care to avoid any later disappointments or problems : an unsuitable location can lead to poor layout of buildings, or will give rise to unforseen extra expenses. In practice however, the freedom to choose may be restricted by the land belonging to the contractor and/or to land up for sale.

Urbanism

Firstly, the urbanism documents should be consulted to make sure that the buildings planned (including future extensions) are authorized. If there is a local land development plan called PLU  (Plan Local d’Urbanisme, which has replaced the previous POS, Plan d’Occupation des Sols), you should check that agricultural buildings are allowed on the premises.

Then, you need to make sure that there are no infrastructure or urbanism plans (motorway, by-pass….) which could change the situation in a near future.

Easements

The use of land may be affected by « public right of way » (around historical monuments, in mountain areas, near the coast etc.). The best way to check out any easements on the land is  to get an urbanism certificate from the Mairie.

Any legal dictates regarding hygiene and salubrity applicable to the activities, and that do not depend on the field of application of listed buildings, are documented in the local sanitary regulations (RSD  or Règlement Sanitaire Départemental).   This document, enforced by the préfets following model regulations, has constraining force and if violated can lead to you being fined.

The RSD defines in particular distances to be respected with regard to third parties, to sources, to streams… and gives details regarding forage and manure storage (manure pits)

As a general rule, buildings for animal accomodation cannot be established :

• Less than 35 m from wells, bore holes, aquaducts, water reservoirs, river banks, or banks of streams.
• Less than 200m away from bathing spots or fishing spots.
• Less than 50m away from buildings accomodating third parties, leisure areas and any establishment receiving public (ERP).

The competent authority is the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) (Regional health authority) and its territorial delegation.

Location and layout

It is of course preferable to find land that will not need too much terrassing work. Nevertheless, slightly undulating terrain can be used to create natural grandstands/ terraces around an arena, or allow to store hay and straw higher up than the stables. A topographic plan to 1/500th with contour lines should be established right from the start.

The land should be sound, and non floodable. A plastic soil (clay or marl), or on the contrary rocky soil, will lead to extra expense. Other types of soil also incur building problems : add-on soils, sandy, peaty, marshy or boggy… However, a sandy soil can be an advantage for areans and riding tracks. When in doubt, a geotechnical study should be carried out by a specialised laboratory.

Even though being over-exposed to winds is unadvisable, there should be a minimum of air flow. Better to avoid bare palteau areas, hilltops, or on the other hand the bottom of a hollow where rainwater accumulates. Marshland, (where there can be numerous ticks who will carry piroplasmosis) are to be avoided.

Orientation or exposure

Indoor stables (barn type) do not need any specific exposure. Nevertheless, better ventilation will be obtained if the buildings are oriented towards the dominant winds. When compatible with the above advice, it can be of interest to orient the stable building on a North-South axis so that they are exposed to sunlight in the morning.

If we’re talking about outdoor stables, the openings should not face the rain carrying winds. Openings to the East promote earlier warming up when the sun rises, and a bit of protection from sun rays at zenith when they are the hottest.

Orienting the arenas on a north/south axis with terraces for the public (along the western side) avoid the spectators being dazzled by the afternoon sun.

Layout of the premises

The office – reception – secretary’s office building is the center of gravity of the establishment.  It should be easily found by the customers, and give the instructors a view over the installations to follow the different activities.
For a riding school, the club house is also of strategic importance in the establishment. The designer should locate it with a view over the working areas (especially an indoor school). Particular attention should be given to the equipment and reception conditions for the public as these play a part in the reputation of the establishment.

The stables can also be located near the arenas (indoor and outdoor), whilst keeping the horse stables and pony stables seperate when possible, and where the riding school has both activities. Pony club members need to be able to get their own specific bearings.

The manure pit must comply to the local authorities’ sanitary regulations, should be located not too far from the stables, but remain visually discrete. Although straw horse manure is not too smelly, it should be located on the leeward side, and should be easily accessible to vehicles coming to collect it.

Forage storage can be located close to the stables, but in a different building for fire prevention. There is a compromise to be found betwwen the the above two constraints. The building should be accessible to articulated delivery trucks. Storing forage above the stables is no longer common practice, due to the risk of fire, and the fact that it is unsuitable for large bales.

Circulation

You will need a heavy duty access road for forage delivery, manure collection and for the passage and parking of trailers. On the other hand lighter roads are required for access to the stables, indoor school, areans, and hacks. Without necessarily requiring dense tarmac covering, these accesses should however be suitable for a tractor used for the maintenance of the arenas, and to lorries coming to deliver materials. Therefore both the accesses and the gates should be wide enough.

Having vehicles and riders on the same roads should be avoided as much as possible. Parking areas should be near the entrance to the riding school (with the exception of parking during the organisation of an event which should be closed to the competition grounds).

Evacuating the animals in case of fire

Fires in riding schools are unfortunately not uncommon. The regulations ( Building code – art R 123) imposes on establishments receving public, measures to ensure the safety of people. On the other hand the regulations do not cater for the safety of the animals. This does not dispense the designer from taking a minimum of care, and ensuring measures for the evacuation of the animals.

Fire safety is dealt with more in detail in the book « Organisation and equipment of equestrian centers », edited in 2012 and available from the bookstore.

In the design of the structure, it is essential to think about usage, so as to make daily tasks as easy as possible. For example, it is the following recommendations should be followed :

• Reducing the distances to be covered frequently (e.g. between the stable and the tack room, between the car park and reception, between feed storage and the stables).
• Topography : mucking out with a wheelbarrrow can be made easier with a manure pit at a lower level or on the same level as the stables.
• Mechanisation : make sure the gates and doors are wide enough to allow access to a microtractor with a trailer, or a manure chain or conveyor belt etc
• Sheltering the pedestrian passages (awning in front of the loose boxes).
• Forage : easy access for delivery vehicles, high door when in a closed hay barn etc, Feeders or mangers placed at the entrance to the loose box (rather than at the back).
• Locks : keep a chart of the number of keys needed for the different buildings.

Build keeping in mind the evolutions planned  : enlarging, additional equipment, etc

From a sanitary point of view :

• Too many horses kept under a same roof is a factor for contagion : plan a possible quarantine for newcomers, since even regular vaccination does not give total protection from bad surprises.
• Avoid having too many nooks and cranies which are difficult or impossble to keep clean.
• Facilitate efficient cleaning by placing taps, electrical supply plugs for pressure cleaners in judicious locations. In the same way, rider facilities (club-house, cloakrooms, toilets) should be designed with robust and easy maintenance materials.

Riding can be just a leisure activity, or can be a sport, even high level sport. The expectations of competition riders are different from those of the leisure riders, or beginners. A competition rider will favour the quality of the riding surfaces and functionality of the equipment ; the leisure rider will be more aware of the user freindly reception areas, and the trails for hacking.

For younger riders accessibility is the first bridge to cross : if there is no public transport, parents should be catered for, as they will have to accompany their children, they should also be able to watch the children’s activity in comfort.

Suitability for disabled people

Pesons with a disability  can also learn to ride (all types of disability). The riding school’s equipment should be suitable, including the stables. The regulations to comply with are those of ERPs.

Accessibility is the general rule when building, on a par with fire safety and hygiene. Sports facilities and ERPs are both concerned by these regulations. Taking this into account, any sports facility must be accessible to mobility reduced persons right from its construction.

Technical details and design plans are available in the book : « Organisation and equipment of equestrian centers » which can be found in the bookstore of the National Stud (Haras Nationaux).