This is a guest post and barn project written and shared by Sylvan Stoltzfus Builders.

Every dressage rider needs a spacious area dedicated to improving their technique and artistry.

A well-traveled and business-focused couple moving back to the United States after several years abroad had a dream. They wanted to create a home that included all the modern amenities, naturally, but also had the same historical character and charm of their comfortable and quaint European home.

They also dreamed of having a magnificent, custom-designed indoor riding arena for dressage and other equestrian hobbies.

Having an indoor area not only provides a great riding experience, but it also offers the opportunity to participate in activities no matter the weather or time of year. Hot or cold. Rain or snow. With so much time being spent in the area and because it would be situated behind their historic barn it was essential that the build be perfect.

A Horse Rider’s Paradise

While house hunting, the couple found a stunning 18th-century Bucks County home and barn featuring cobblestone and antique stalls in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Bucks County is one of the three original counties created by colonial proprietor William Penn in 1682. Penn named the county after Buckinghamshire (Bucks, for short), the county where he lived in England. This seemed to be a serendipitous move for the couple. They would be moving from a European abode to one that was birthed by a European first generation descendant.

Beyond its history, Buck’s county is known for its rolling hillsides, unadulterated state and community parks, agricultural farmland, and colonial history.

And couple fell in love with all of it—the property, the area’s history, the breathtaking countryside, and the town’s proximity to major cities likes Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

Now all they needed was an arena that would compliment their beautiful estate and complete their dream.

Building the Arena

Word of mouth travels fast and the internet even faster, so it wasn’t long before the couple found Sylvan Stoltzfus Builders.

When they met the SSB team, they shared their vision for the project. They wanted it to blend into their property as if it had always been there. They wanted the highest quality products, impressive fixtures, and ultimate convenience.

With their mission before them, the building team started their work. Here are a few things they did to wow their clients and create an impressive and unique structure.

• To mimic the estate’s bank barn, they duplicated the same stone pattern that was on the historic barn’s exterior.
• The crew installed large custom windows that wrapped around the building highlighting the magnificent views of the landscape from every angle and allowing sunshine to pour inside.
• They built a 36-foot wide porch with a walking path that led from the barn to the arena’s dramatic main entrance.
• They installed human-sized light fixtures that the client had custom made. The electrical team wired in several 6-foot exterior lights that would surely pierce the darkness and provide well-lite passage during the night and on overcast days.
• They installed large doors that moved smoothly and effortlessly as they rolled sleekly on durable, high-quality rollers making opening and closing a breeze and taking horses in and out convenient.  

The 70×200-foot indoor horse arena with 14-foot walls was complete within the year. Not only did this stunning structure provide what the couple wanted, it exceeded their expectations.

Custom Horse Arena Construction in Pennsylvania and Beyond

Sylvan Stoltzfus Builders, a family-owned and operated business located in the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, consists of an experienced team of designers, hardworking Amish craftsmen and builders who have constructed, converted, and renovated hundreds of barns, carriage house garages, and horse stables & riding facilities in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Are you ready to build your own horse facility? Maybe you want to renovate a historic barn that sits on your property.

Start by telling us what you want—what you hope for and what you can only imagine. From there, our experienced team will collaborate to create an architectural drawing and floor plan sketchup. Make as many tweaks as you like—this is your dream barn after all. Once you’re comfortable with the plan, we’ll get to work taking care of every detail—from top to bottom, inside and outside.

Considering partnering with Sylvan Stoltzfus Builders for your next unique project. Join an exclusive group we call the SSB Family!

See more of our custom structures in Our Work gallery and on Houzz.