Arena size - how much difference will it make?

pootleperkin

pootleperkin

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Hi All,

I'm trying to decide what size arena to install.

I have priced up a 20x40, which is within budget but am also contemplating a 50x23 or perhaps 25x40m.

I know the general consensus is go for the biggest you can afford, but I'm wondering if anyone has ridden in arenas of similar size to the latter two and what sort of difference it makes.

I can't stretch to a 60m.

The arena will be used mostly for flat work, but also some jump schooling - that is what led me to think about the other two sizes, just giving my two big warmbloods a bit more room to get around the corner etc after a jump. I probably won't do masses of jumping but would like to feel that I can if necessary.

I also cannot decide on a surface.......what do people think of Flexiride on top of sand or pasada with sand?

Champagne truffles to all :D
 
We've just finished building our 20 x 40 manege already wishing we had made it bigger!!!Our horses range from 16.2 to 15.1hh a longer school would have been better! If you have the area and finances go for bigger.
 
If you can go to 50m x 23m couldn't you go to 50 x 25? If you can I would definitely do this. Mine is 20 x 40 which is great to have at home as couldn't go any longer, but would love a bit more length and width (that sounds a bit wrong :o)

My surface is very old (equisand and plastic) so can't comment on the "new fangled" ones but must say, mine is amazing 15 years in and never needed to be topped but then it's only me using it!
 
go for thr biggest you can afford. I managed to stretch our 20x40 to 22x42, even that little bit helps when jumping. It also allows an dressage arena to use the inside track and stops horses using the fence for straightness.
 
I've just had a 20x40 put in but don't really jump so no need for larger. I do however have Flexiride and silica sand and I am really pleased with it. The sand needs to be pretty damp and compacted before you put the Flexiride on top and then the Flexiride flattens and protects the sand from freezing or drying out. Once settled it needs very little maintenance and I chose it because I do not want to be watering in the summer.
 
Thanks all - great replies and food for thought.

Thistle - it had crossed my mind that it would be good to put dressage boards up inside the area - some much better for competition practice. I am lucky enough to use a friends 40 x 20 quite regularly, and do find this ok, but I can see the benefit of something even a little bigger than that.
 
We went for a 25 x 45 when we had ours built. Just gave us a few more options for sj.

The house has now been sold and we are at livery. The yard has a 50 x 30 which is great.
 
If you can go wider than 20m I would as it means you can practice dressage tests without relying on the walls to hold you up and also gives more flexibility if you want to be able to jump.
 
pootleperkin said:
Thanks all - great replies and food for thought.

Thistle - it had crossed my mind that it would be good to put dressage boards up inside the area - some much better for competition practice. I am lucky enough to use a friends 40 x 20 quite regularly, and do find this ok, but I can see the benefit of something even a little bigger than that.
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We had planning for 40x20, couldn't have bigger as planners viewed larger as commercial. Shame the tape measure stretched!
 
MegaBeast said:
If you can go wider than 20m I would as it means you can practice dressage tests without relying on the walls to hold you up and also gives more flexibility if you want to be able to jump.
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Agree with this completely, you dont want to be right up against the walls when doing dressage. and 20x40 really wont give you much room to jump properly

The 50x23 would get my vote but as another poster said 50x25 would be even better of course!
 
I have just been running through the figures tonight and can't justify the cost of the 50 x 23m. The more I think about it, the more a 22 x 42 or very similar makes sense.
 
ok if it is the cost of the actual surface which is stretching the figures, how about this for a compromise, , build the base drainage for a larger arena, but fence in for the smaller one (shorter) and when when you have won all that prize money you can expand the surface? i know it might look a tad naff for a couple of years but it will give you flexability
 
The problem with the figures is a lot to do with the surface - we are miles away from any of the silica sand quarries so the delivery is nearly as much as the sand - we are getting quotes of around £34/tonne plus.
 
My OH builds them for a living, and people opting for 22 x 42 or 25 x 45 is quite popular. It gives you that extra room for jumping or dressage practice. But ov the bigger the more costly. If its for your own personal use, then i would think anything too large would be a waste of money.

I have myself a 20 x 40 at home with premixed mce clopf, its brilliant. After all this dry weather its still riding well, and not at all deep. Due to being premixed the mce clopf build a 'roots' like system and holds the surface together and its stays nice and firm. At my old yard i had equestrian surfaces fibre mixed into the top few inches, when the weather was dry it would all rise to the top and ride very deep.
FWIW i would only use silica sand, it maybe costly now, but in the long run if you choose the best surface you can buy now i will last.

Take the time to go and visit contractors previous arenas, then you can see the different surfaces before you shell out on one your not happy with 6 months down the line.
 
pootleperkin said:
I have just been running through the figures tonight and can't justify the cost of the 50 x 23m. The more I think about it, the more a 22 x 42 or very similar makes sense.
Click to expand...

The planning application for mine has just gone in. I've gone for 42 x 22 so that I can lay my dressage boards out inside which not only is better for the horse to learn to support himself, it'll also save my knees getting banged on the fence. :eek::)
 
We have a 20x40 & the 15.3hh is struggling with jumping in it, she just finds it a tad too small. I think her being young & very forward doesn't help but I wish it was a little bigger. We can get about 4/5 jumps in it but she's on top of them a bit too soon!
 
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