Arena dilemma- have I got enough space/land?

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MissieSFW

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Hi everyone, I'm trying to decide whether to put in an arena at home. But unfortunately the only sensible place to put it is an odd size- 20x35m. Do you think this would be big enough?? My horses are 15.2 and 16.1... There is an alternative location which is big enough for a 20x40 but it is at end of field so would require some sort of separate lighting and also I'd have to walk horse across the paddock to get to it!

Also I'm worried if I have enough land to use some for an arena- currently have 2.5 acres approx for 2 horses. Arena would take up approx 1/3 of one of my 3 fields, plus I would take about 1/4 of one of the others out of use for several months as it would have to take the spoil as so expensive to remove it. Grazing ok but never seems to grow abundant grass so don't want to deprive my horses of grass and have to feed them hay all year round!

What do you think??! Thanks guys!
 
Basic flatwork schooling, lungeing and odd bit of jumping altho I know this would be limited by size. But can put fences out in paddock in summer...
 
MissieSFW said:
Basic flatwork schooling, lungeing and odd bit of jumping altho I know this would be limited by size. But can put fences out in paddock in summer...
Click to expand...

I'm just going to start working for an international sj....she has competed at Olympia and done 1.60m.....all trained for in a 25 x 25m school!
 
I have a 16h and 17h horse and 2.5 acres wouldn't last them long even without an arena. It really depends on how you manage for grazing at the moment. Have you done a few years there already and got the measure of it? I guess you could always use the arena for turnout in winter or bad weather to save the fields. Personally I couldn't cope with less than four acres for my two.

I wouldn't worry about a shorter arena. My friend has a 18mx37m indoor (was originally a cowshed) and my green 17h horse copes fine in it.
 
Brill thank u all for the comments. The grazing is bothering me more than the size, I had 2 Shetlands and one 15.2 on it all last year and tbh I struggled but prob more due to me not managing it v well and not rotating enough. I have a next door neighbour with a huge adjoining field and I borrowed some of that last year so could hopefully do so again, and my dad farms 20 mins away and also has tons of grass so may consider 2 month holiday for them there in late autumn/winter followed by 2 months using arena for turnout in jab/feb to save grazing? So on that basis may be doable??
 
Yes if you have options of putting them on other grazing for a month or two a year it would help you greatly and change things altogether.
 
I have just under 3 acres for 4, well, one horse and 3 ponies. We are heavy clay so our arena is a godsend for winter turnout. I micro manage the fields and they go out on the arena if it rains or has rained the previous day. Obv not enough grass to sustain them through winter so lots of hay used, but enough for them to continue to get a nibble through winter.
 
Fab thanks v much, I feel much happier about it all now! Our grass always seems to look a bit lifeless but I think it's just compacted and overgrazed, so this year I am aerating them all and then planning a strict policy of rotation, harrowing reseeding and fertilising! Hopefully not having shetties will help as they are like lawn mowers!! Sometimes I feel bad that the horses never really have more than 3/4 acre to stretch their legs on, but can't be helped...
 
Again, agree the size will be fine.

It will also gives you the option of an all weather turnout in winter for wet days, so will benefit your grazing too.
 
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