Coping without an arena..?!

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JoshuaR97

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Unfortunately we all don't have a couple of thousand laying around for some sand so we have to make the best of putting jumps out into the field etc. I currently have some jumps out but hardy using them as the field is rock solid. Wondering how do others cope with jumping in their fields during the summer when the ground isn't great. Also want to practise as want to get out to some shows before they end. Any ideas?
 
How high are you jumping?

Personally I feel proper conditioning of their legs and not having arena means far less injuries! I only have the field to ride in in the summer (and it's not very flat). Mostly I have to do stuff hacking. Only in arenas for clinics and comps.
 
As one of the 'older generation' I grew up before arenas were even dreamed about! Even the riding school where I learned to ride only had a paddock with a circular track worn by the ponies and it varied between rock hard, boggy or a dust bath!

My husband and I show jumped up to Grade A level, (International Trial level 1.50) we both worked full time and did our own horses with no electric lights and no arena. Guess what? Our horses were sounder than anything I have nowadays!
 
Well you can keep them lower when the ground is rock hard. There are many many things you can do schooling wise over smaller fences anyway.

In Scotland it's rare to need to worry about hard grassed ground but as mine aren't shod, they canter on solid tracks all year round and between this and living out all year round I believe they are stronger, fitter and much sounder.
 
I have a separate area for exercise and keep the grass fetlock deep which gives a bit of a spring and I lunged a pony over jumps this morning on an area of thick clover

I do know a couple of showjumping yards that bring in sand and spread that out on the grass (thinly so you see more grass than sand) so the area doesn't get a caked hard surface
 
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