Equine Property Maintenance in Chalfont, Bucks County, PA: Expanding a Dry Lot & Restoring Arena Drainage

Pankey Nelson
3 days ago
5 min read

A red barn with gray roof and white trim stand opposite of a large walk-in shed, with a dry lot between. The dry lot is leveled screenings. In the background is a field with a split rail, and trees, all under a blue sky abounding with white cumulus clouds.

Water management on an equine property is critical, and a well-designed system doesn't need to be rebuilt every few years. It just needs the right maintenance to keep a good system working.

For this equine property in Chalfont, Bucks County, PA, the original arena, dry lot, French drain, and swale system had been installed more than 20 years ago.

And here's the impressive part: it was still working.

The original work had been done well, and that meant we weren't starting from scratch. Instead, we were able to refresh what was already there, make a few improvements, and adapt the property to the homeowner's changing needs.

This project had three main goals:

Remove grass that had taken over the outer portion of the riding arena.
Expand the existing dry lot to give the homeowner more usable space for her Quarter Horses.
Address several small water management issues to make sure the property's existing drainage systems could continue doing their jobs.

Good Sitework Gives You Something to Maintain—Not Something to Rebuild

One of our favorite things about this project was seeing how well the original sitework had held up. The property already had:

A well-built riding arena
A dry lot
French drain system
Swales directing surface water
Proper grading throughout the property

After more than two decades, the systems weren't failing. They simply needed some attention.

Stone areas had settled and gotten a little low. Swales had accumulated sediment and needed to be reshaped. Grass had gradually encroached into the riding arena.

We didn't need to tear everything apart and start over. All we needed was to restore the areas that needed attention while preserving the infrastructure that was still working.

That's normal property maintenance.

Expanding the Dry Lot for Quarter Horses

A red barn, with gray roof and white trim, opens onto a leveled dry lot with screenings. In the background are a field, trees, and a cloudy sky.

The homeowner had originally built the property around Thoroughbreds. After switching to Quarter Horses, she needed a larger dry lot to help manage her horses' weight.

Quarter Horses can be easy keepers and prone to insulin resistance, so having a larger dry lot makes keeping them off the grass easier.

The existing dry lot was already well-built, so rather than replacing it, we expanded the usable area and retopped the existing sections that had become low over the years.

This gave the horses more usable space without unnecessarily disturbing the existing drainage system.

Restoring the Swale Through the Dry Lot Paddock

Water management is one of the most important parts of maintaining an equine property.

The existing dry lot/paddock had a swale designed to direct water toward the property's French drain system. Over time, the swale had become less effective and there was a bit of erosion happening at the very edge of the dry lot next to the shed.

We refreshed the swale to restore its intended effectiveness and make sure surface water could move toward the existing French drain in the path we wanted, stopping the erosion.

This is a good example of why regular property maintenance matters.

A drainage system doesn't necessarily need to be replaced just because it isn't performing like it used to. It just needs a refresh and minor maintenance.

Reclaiming the Outer 6 Feet of the Riding Arena

A semi-closeup on the area of a fenced riding arena where encroaching grass has been removed. The arena has been leveled and screenings applied. The fence is split-rail, and there are trees beyond the far side of the fence.

The riding arena itself was still in good condition, but grass had gradually taken over approximately six feet around the outside edge.

We excavated the outer six feet and removed the grass and organic material.

We then installed fresh screenings and worked the entire arena to create a smooth, flat finish.

Rather than simply treating the area where the grass had appeared, we took the opportunity to freshen the entire arena so the finished surface was level and uniform.

Redirecting Water Around the Arena

Closeup on the completed refreshing of a swale, part of the water management system on this equine property. Straw protect the grass seed atop the area. The existing grass is green, and there is a fenced riding arena to the right and a fenced pasture on the left. Trees are in the background, and a cloudy blue sky.

The second major water management issue was outside the arena. Surface water coming from the backyard and driveway was making its through the arena instead of being directed around it.

We refreshed the swale outside the arena to redirect that water around the riding area.

The goal is simple:

Keep water moving where we want it to go instead of letting it decide for itself.

Proper grading and functioning swales are often the first line of defense against erosion and standing water on an equine property.

The Result: An Equine Property That Works Better for Today's Needs

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/54918c_6090bff5d95c4710b1acf9715da4bff6/720p/mp4/file.mp4

This wasn't a complete property overhaul. It didn't need to be.

The original infrastructure had been done well and had stood the test of time. We simply made the improvements necessary to adapt the property to the homeowner's current needs and restore some of the drainage features that had become less effective over the years.

The result is:

A larger dry lot for better horse management
Restored swales
Improved surface water flow
A refreshed riding arena
Better use of the property's existing French drain system

Sometimes the best property improvement is knowing what doesn't need to be replaced.

Why Water Management Matters on an Equine Property

A view of the area between a pasture and riding arena. The arena is freshly screened and leveled. Straw and grass seed sit atop an area where a swale was refreshed to maintain the water management system. The grass is green, trees stand tall in the background, and the blue sky has fluffy cumulus clouds.

Horses and standing water don't make a particularly good combination.

Poor drainage can lead to muddy paddocks, erosion, deteriorating riding surfaces, and areas that become difficult and hazardous to use during wet weather.

A properly designed water management system helps move water away from the areas where you need dry, usable footing.

That can include:

French drains
Swales
Proper grading
Dry lots
Riding arena drainage

The important part is that all of these systems work together.

Frequently Asked Questions

View from the corner of a barn that has fresh grading to keep water from the hill from running right into the barn. The K+L Construction work truck is parked nearby. Construction is still underway, as seen in the downspout that needs connecting to the underground water management system.

Why is grading important for an equine property?

Proper grading controls where surface water goes. On an equine property, that can mean directing water away from paddocks, arenas, barns, and high-traffic areas to preventing erosion and standing water, which can be particulary hazardous in frigid climates. Good grading is one of the foundations of effective equine property management.

How often should an equine property's drainage swales be maintained?

There's no universal schedule because every property is different. However, swales should be checked periodically for sediment, leaves, erosion, vegetation, standing water, or changes in grade that prevent water from flowing as originally designed. Addressing small issues early can help prevent much larger drainage problems later.

Interested in improving the function of your equine property? Explore more of our equine and drainage projects:

Proudly Serving Bucks County and Surrounding Areas

Kyle and Laura Schaeffer standing in front of the K+L company covered pickup truck, with their three dogs at their feet. K+L Construction provides excavation sitework, construction services, basement excavation, foundation drainage, water management, concrete, utility installation, grading, and site preparation

K+L Construction provides excavation sitework, construction services, basement excavation, foundation drainage, water management, concrete, utility installation, grading, site preparation, and equine property management, throughout Bucks County, Berks County, Montgomery County, Lehigh County, and neighboring communities throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Boyertown, Bally, Fleetwood, Kutztown, Oley, Topton, Bechtelsville, Reading, Pottstown, Quakertown, and more.

Whether you're maintaining an established equine property or developing a new one, we can help improve footing, drainage, and the way your property handles water.

Request a Free Estimate

Equine barn with stalls opening into a refreshed dry lot. A one-car garage is to the left, along with a camper horse trailer. There are treetops in the backtround, and a blue sky.

Your equine property may not need a complete rebuild to work better. Sometimes it just needs the right maintenance.

If your paddock stays muddy, your arena is eroding, your swales aren't moving water like they used to, or you need more usable space for your horses, K+L Construction can help.

Fill out our online estimate request form to request an estimate for your equine property improvement project.