Arena sizes? Going smaller than 20x40?

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Merlod

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I have been granted planning for a 20x40 outdoor arena on my small livery yard. I was just wondering if anyone had an arena smaller than 20x40? Perhaps 20x30/35? Pics would be great!

Do you feel more limited or is it not really noticeable to ride? My biggest is 14.2, but he is a big moving sec D, I currently hire a local school which is 20x20 and it is a bit limiting but compared to that 20x30 would surely be an improvement?
 
I used to have an 18x36m, so only a tiny bit smaller but the short side did feel very short! I suppose once you account for corners and not kneecapping yourself on the fence it is a couple of metres smaller again :)

I didn't have a major problem schooling and jumping with most horses and had lessons with up to 4 small horses no issues but it was difficult with the 17.2hh! Personally I wouldn't go smaller than 20x40 unless I had no option.
 
Merlod said:
I have been granted planning for a 20x40 outdoor arena on my small livery yard. I was just wondering if anyone had an arena smaller than 20x40? Perhaps 20x30/35? Pics would be great!

Do you feel more limited or is it not really noticeable to ride? My biggest is 14.2, but he is a big moving sec D, I currently hire a local school which is 20x20 and it is a bit limiting but compared to that 20x30 would surely be an improvement?
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For flatwork you can probably just about get away with, however for jumping anything less than 20 X 40 really is an arse and even that is pretty tight.
 
Ideally if you can afford a 20 x 40 arena then go for it. Going smaller will limit what you can do jumping wise because everything will be too tight when you try & set up a combination or set up several fences that you can jump each way so in effect jump equivalent of a full course. Additionally if you want to do dressage then you really need a minimum of 20 x 40 to ride the tests. It's said that great things come in little packages....... but with arenas it's not generally true. :)
 
I wouldn't tbh, I would rather ride in the field, I just think the constant turning just ain't great for their legs.

Also for the cost of putting in a decent arena it would be cheaper in the long rung to box up and hire a bigger arena.
 
I would always advise going as big as you can with an arena so if I could afford it I wouldn't go any smaller than 20x40 :)
 
RS I rode at as a child has a smaller arena - can't remember exact size but about 20 x 30 I think. It was quite tight, even on ponies. Not helped by having solid boundaries (brick wall on one side, very thick trees/vegetation on the others) so as benz pointed out, you lose a bit of space having to stay far enough inboard to not kneecap yourself.
 
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