The Challenge
Richard Hughes Racing required a purpose-built space to safely train, break in, and rehabilitate horses at their yard. Breakers and young horses can be easily distracted, particularly in open environments, so the facility needed to provide a secure, controlled, and closed off working area that would help horses remain focused during early training.
The Solution
We installed a 16m diameter lunge ring, constructed with a robust, well-draining base, using 100gsm non-woven geotextile membrane, clean carboniferous limestone layer and an AC20 open graded tarmacadam separation layer. Once the groundworks were complete, we installed Andrews Bowen Lunge Mix, a specialist equestrian surface designed to provide reliable cushioning, grip, and durability for lunging work.
Surrounding the ring, we installed a 2.1m (7ft) boarded fence constructed from UC4 treated timber. The height and solid boarding help block external distractions, making it ideal for fresh, young, or inexperienced horses, while also creating a safe and enclosed working environment.
To enhance usability, we also constructed a dedicated viewing platform, allowing owners, trainers, and visitors to observe horses working in the ring without needing to enter the working area.
The Outcome
The completed lunge ring provides Richard Hughes Racing with a safe, professional, and highly functional training environment.
The lunge ring offers a controlled space for breaking-in young horses and supporting rehabilitation work, with the tall boarded fencing helping to minimise distractions and keep horses focused.
These improvements enhance the yard’s training facilities while providing a durable, purpose-built solution designed to perform reliably for years to come.
Richard Hughes Racing, Racehorse Trainer
The lunge ring has quickly become an essential part of our routine, particularly for breakers and rehab work, and provides a safe, focused environment for the horses to work in. The addition of the viewing platform is a great touch too, allowing us to observe sessions clearly without being in the ring. The Tomley team were great to work with and delivered exactly what we were looking for. We couldn’t be happier with the finished result.