Indiana Outdoor Equestrian Center
Website
City of Arvada's Website
https://arvada.org/explore/sports-recreation/arvada-indoor-equestrian-arena-tour-and-open-house
https://arvada.org/explore/sports-recreation/arvada-indoor-equestrian-arena-tour-and-open-house
Trail Map
Park Fees
Free! Our taxes help pay for the maintenance of this park.
Trailer Parking
There is a very large gravel lot that is exclusively for horse trailer parking.
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I love this place because there is an automatic gate that closes off the parking lot from the busy street of Indiana.
Bathrooms
Yes, porta potties are available. There is also a covered area with picnic tables.
Water
There is a water spigot and a water trough. I would not use the public water trough as a precaution. Many diseases are spread by contact through saliva through water. I would avoid the trough but use the water spigot to fill up your own bucket.
Mounting
There is a great filled in tire I use to mount. There is also a platform with stairs that is a little taller that you can use to get on. Being creative you can also use the picnic tables or the arena fence.
Footing
Excellent dirt trail. The footing is soft with occasional rocks around the perimeter trail. The footing is great for trotting or cantering around the outside of the park.
Horse Facilities
At least 2 roundpens, 2 outdoor arenas, bridge obstacle and gate that you can open and close. Multiple pipe paddocks. Covered picnic area.
Horse Hazards
There are very few hazards at this equestrian center. If it is your first time I would let your horse look at the tires at the far end of the walking trail. Most horses look once or twice then are happy to walk the perimeter trail. There is also an arena drag sitting off to the left as you start clockwise around the track.
I have also seen a mother coyote at the east side of the park. We give her room and she doesn't bother the horses. At one time there was a house undergoing construction at the north side of the park so it is a good idea to walk around and let your horse get familiar with the outside path. I do take for granted that my horses walk past the pavillion, arenas, garbage cans bridge and gate obstaces without a second thought.
Alfalfa:
The alfalfa grown in the middle of the park is harvested and sold yearly. My horses love to enjoy this wonderful grazing. The biggest problem I have is trying to get my horses to leave the alfalfa field to trot around the track.
The alfalfa grown in the middle of the park is harvested and sold yearly. My horses love to enjoy this wonderful grazing. The biggest problem I have is trying to get my horses to leave the alfalfa field to trot around the track.
Bugs:
The equestrian center is next to the canal and during the wet parts of the summer the bugs are very bad! Just remember your fly masks and fly spray.
The equestrian center is next to the canal and during the wet parts of the summer the bugs are very bad! Just remember your fly masks and fly spray.
Trail Experience
This is a wonderful public horse facility that has two large outdoor sand arenas and multiple round pens. There is also an almost long mile walking track around the whole park. In the summer there is some delicious fresh alfalfa throughout the grass which makes this place my horses' favorite place. I feel extremely safe here because I know even if I fell off the area is gated and fenced and there is such amazing grass and alfalfa my horse is likely to not go anywhere.
Trail Connections
This outdoor equestrian park is literally right next to the indoor arena but is separated by a ditch. I have tried walking around behind the neighboring property but there is no way to get from the outdoor park into the property of the indoor equestrian center without walking down Indiana. There is a trail that goes from the outdoor equestrian center park to the near-by JK and Metro ranch boarding barns. It continues behind the equestrian center along the canal. However, to get back to the equestrian center you have to walk down Indiana. It is a short walk down Indiana, maybe less than 10 feet but it can be extremely terrifying if you are walking right next to the busy traffic.
Below: The scary section of the trail is highlighted in red. It feels like a long stretch along Indiana. It would be great if there was a wider shoulder or bridge across the canal.
Trail Videos
Rating
Easy. This is a great place to come if you need to lunge or ride your horse in the arena before going out on the trail. It is gated, safe and made for horses. No bikers, hikers or dogs, just horse heaven.