Arenas - hedge or post and rail?

[kit279]

Just quick spot survey - would you prefer a hedge border to a post and rail fence for an arena?

I've got to decide whether I want to have mine post and railed - I have quite a bit of space but probably only going to build a 40x20 arena for now and I wonder whether the post and rail will shrink it a bit. If I just have kickboards, then it will seem a little bigger and I can hedge the borders a bit back from the arena to make a windbreak.

Which would be preferable for you?

 

[dressagelove]

Kickboards and hedges defo. Also looks much more aesthetically pleasing. Lucky u!

 

[NR99]

Hedges as long as you plant them back far enough that you can extend the arena at a later date if you choose to.

 

[martlin]

I have a hedge on one side and then earth banks on the other 3, it gives a bit of a windbreak and saved me a fair amount of money on soil removal for the arena.

 

[Honey08]

Could you be bothered strimming it and getting it level all the time if you put a hedge in? Not sure I could!

 

[dieseldog]

If you can I would go for an arena bigger than 20x40, it would be easier to do it now and don't fence it and use that cash to extend the arena. Do you need planning for yours?

Even a few metres wider than 20 makes a massive difference.

 

[Mike007]

I would rather like an arena without any fencing, I find that fencing affects horses negatively. (But is great if you get bronked off and dont want to chase your horse into the next county).Horses use the fence as a psychological prop, or in Bob the "nota" cobs case,rather like the fence round the fairground bumper cars. We added a few bumps and scrapes to the indoor school wall tonight For ++++++ sakes bob ITS A LISTED BUILDING

 

[racingdemon]

I have post & rail on one end, then set back on all the other three sides so there is a nice grass strip all the way around..... makes the area feel miles bigger & does look really nice, personally i'd avoid a fence right up to the kick boards, & also echo PP.... just an extra couple of metres can make all the difference, esp when jumping!

 

[imr]

Kickboards and then a gap to hedge or fence. Not a fan of fencing right on the edge as got my leg squished by horse squishing me into fence when we had a fenced arena at home. Also easier to put mirrors up between hedge and kickboards if you decide to do that. Hedges are better windbreaks too !

 

[TarrSteps]

A hedge for a windbreak if you need it and agree, fencing for containment, but I also like without if possible. It also means, depending on how it's situated, you can set jumps outside the school when the ground is good. If you're going to be riding mostly established horses I'd say a hedge set back from the windward side and then open on the others. If you're going to be breaking in it and/or need to turn horses loose in it, then a proper fence, although still set back a bit from the footing if you can swing it.

 

[Baydale]

Kickboards and hedge set back from them, but only on the sides that need some shelter. Ours is built into a bit of a hillside so we have post and rail around the whole area with a couple of ditches and a little bank with steps. I much prefer riding with just kickboards for all the reasons mentioned above and it doesn't feel so enclosed and small that way; also you can jump in and out if you want some variety to your work. Sometimes I jump in and out deliberately and sometimes it's accidental...

I can't remember how much room you've got but if you can afford to lose some to build it that way it's worth it. We sometimes turn them out in that area to eat the grass down if the lawnmower's broken. Ours is an oddly-shaped area, as you can see from these photos, but the fencing makes it look a lot more manicured.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150223010213635.318147.578103634&type=1&l=29c46d4ff

 

[mrussell]

Depends what youre riding !! I would say fence all the way, my nerve had have had enough of rattley hedges !

Although a hedge makes a softer landing.....

 

[Booboos]

The post and rail should not take up space from the arena as 20x40 are your internal dimensions, i.e. to the inside of the retaining boards (for the sand) and the posts are placed on the outside of the retaining boards (otherwise you would bang your leg on each one).

If you go for post and rail make sure it's flimsy! This may sound weird but you want posts and rails that will break if a rider falls on them so definitely do not concrete the posts in!

The hedge sounds like a great idea but unless you buy mature plants (which will cost a lot) you will have to wait quite a few years for a proper hedge and there is a lot of maintenance involved in keeping it a neat shape.

 

[SpottedCat]

Other thing to think about with hedge is if it's not evergreen, leaves fall on the arena and need clearing up unless it is set well back - by which I mean several metres! I also agree with DD - go for bigger if you can now.

 

[stencilface]

I would have both - I woudl like the fence right next to the kickboards though so its possible to free school, and less chance of my horse tripping up the kickboards. I would also have a hedge at least on the side where the prevailing wind is from (W/SW). And this is the one instance where an evergreen hedge is your best bet, no leaf drop, grows thick and fast and looks good all year round

 

[ArcticFox]

We are having a post and rail but I would be keen to plant a hedge down the windy side.

What are your hedge recommendations? I would like one that doesn't rustle too much!

 

[Rafferoo]

Hedges blowing in the wind and naughty Pigeons flying out an inopportune moments would have me going for post and rails everytime!! The one around our arena never seems to loose its leaves - they just get really dry and make lots of noise in the wind all winter : P

 

[Miss L Toe]

Could you be bothered strimming it and getting it level all the time if you put a hedge in? Not sure I could!

It is not that big a job if you have a proper hedge trimmer, it is not difficult and is good for the environment, it will be a few years before it needs serious maintenance, and post and rail may need painting, which is a much bigger job, also best to put some/most posts in concrete, expensive.
Try a a mixed hedge species available from hedging specialists, beech rustles, but not a lot, it turns brown in winter, I would avoid green non-natives and also YEW [poisonous]

 

[stencilface]

We are having a post and rail but I would be keen to plant a hedge down the windy side.

What are your hedge recommendations? I would like one that doesn't rustle too much!

Any kind of conifer type hedge would be rustle free virtually (much more so than a traditional leafy hedge anyway), so leylandii or anything similar. ETA as long as horses can't get access to eat it

 

[imr]

My trainer has leylandii around three edges of the school, set back from the boards, they grow quick and are quite evergreen and bushy. Doesnt really rustle or make much noise though it does move a bit in the wind - horses dont generally spook at it anyway !

 

[flyingfeet]

I'm anti hedges - its more maintenance and then you cannot see what's going on in the arena

For example when Dad was turning the hay and saw me hit the deck (my fault!) I've never seen him go so fast

Hedges would have meant no one could see!

 

[KatieLovesJames]

I had this dilemma too! I went for unfenced but will fence the 2 acres it's set in and put some xc fences around it so we can pop in and out. I had to build a lunge pen too though so I could free school and to provide somewhere secure for the kids/ nervous riders and fresh ponies to go!

 

[Thistle]

remember is you go for evergreen hedging that many evergreens are poisonous to horses

 

[PolarSkye]

Dressage arena boards - or post and rail. The dressage arena boards really help the rider to teach the horse not to lean on the rail and makes you ride between hand and leg more . . . post and rail means horsey can see everything and there's no risk of scary surprises in the hedge (I speak from experience).

P

 

[kerilli]

i'd prob go for p&r if you don't need the windbreak. either way, i'd set the fence well back from the boards, definitely. not only because it stops the horses relying on it, but also from a safety issue. I know of a few people who've been fired into the arena fence, and i bought my Haygain from a lady who was giving up completely, because she had a horrible accident where she'd just finished jumping, was cantering round, her foot somehow caught in the p&r fencing, and her ankle took the brunt and broke very badly as it got bent back.

 

[millitiger]

Do you need a fence/hedge at all?

Lots of people just have kickboards now as it is cheaper and don't want the horse to rely on the fence.

Yes, the horse can go back to the yard if you fall off but as long as your perimeter is secure I don't see an issue and no different to riding in a field/xc etc.

I do love the miniture hedges that some 'posh' yards have- only about 2ft tall and very uniform- they look great!

 

[stencilface]

TBH if we ever put a school in, we would likely just have kickboards and a perimeter fence around the bund we would need to create to get all the drainage etc in, and the hedges on the more windy sides

 

[Thistle]

I had to fence my arena as it is set in a field and I didn't want to lose any grazing, also didn't want the horses trespassing all over it.

 

[KatieLovesJames]

As per Kerillis post I am paranoid riding in the pen (post and rail) because I have a knackered ankle and I'm always terrified of catching it.
Thistle - I will turn out to graze the arena and field but they love to 'trespass' and have a lovely roll in the arena much to my horror! Maybe I should get a couple of sheep?!
OP I can't decide whether to plant an ornamental hedge round the arena so it has nothing at the moment until I make my mind up.

 

[Wilbur_Force]

Depends on where its situated I suppose. I've previously been at a yard where one outdoor was fenced and one just kickboards. The one with just the kickboards was interesting on the first few occasions! Gives a whole new meaning to the outside rein and made me a better rider in a few minutes flat.

I like the idea of a hedge - provides a more 'optical illusion' boundary without it being fixed. Good for both horse and rider, as horsse cannot rely on the fence and but has a sort of 'countaining' boundary. Hope that makes sense