Open-side covered arenas in North Florida

Open-side covered arenas in North Florida: what to know

An open-side covered arena is mostly roof: clear-span frames on sidewall columns, with the walls left off or sheeted only part way down from the eave. Riders get shade and a dry surface while the breeze still passes through. Many owners sheet a band at the top of each wall to keep slanting rain off the rail, or close the end that faces the worst weather. Since an open roof lets wind in underneath, those choices go to the engineer before the frames are designed.