Do you feel at a disadvantage not having a surfaced arena?

Do you feel at a disadvantage not having an arena?

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QueenDee_

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As title really, I have a field that is fairly level but still has lumps and bumps and of course is slippery when wet and so sometimes find myself wishing I had an arena I could ride in, wondering if others feel the same?

Do you feel at a disadvantage not having an arena, and if so, why?
 
Not a disadvantage as such, but it is an inconvenience as I have to box a couple times a week to use one. That takes three hours in total instead of say an hour if I had one at home. I'd rather have them at home without a school though than go back to having them in livery.
 
No!

I wouldn't have an arena even if I WAS allowed one!

Schooling in an open space is much better IMO. No fences to hang on and the horses don't go nuts on the rare occasions that their feet actually touch grass (usually at a competition!)

:D
 
Agree with Patterdale, agree there are times it would be convenient, like pitch black winter evenings or when the grounds very wet, or too hard to jump. But never felt disadvantaged. The advantages of having horses that remember their training anywhere outweigh the disadvantages
 
There are a lot of things I would want before an arena (like a proper shelter, and lights, oh and running water... And somewhere to keep all my horse stuff that isn't the spare room!) And I feel lucky to have a reasonably flat field so its not too bad! Agree about winter but I think water and lights would be the big draw if I were to move!!
 
patterdale said:
Schooling in an open space is much better IMO. No fences to hang on and the horses don't go nuts on the rare occasions that their feet actually touch grass (usually at a competition!)

:D
Click to expand...

To be honest this is one of the things I tell myself when i'm on a downer about not having one:o
 
Mandwhy i agree - I want proper stables before an arena!
My beasts are fed up of alternating between cattle pens and sheep sheds!
Proper stables, 3 I think, plus a tack room with nice hanging baskets....that's what I dream of!

:D
 
Agree, would definitely want proper shelters, stables and electricity before moaning about not having an arena!

I actually enjoy schooling in a massive field, it allows you to be inventive!
 
Absolutely! It seems like everyone that has said no has a field to use instead. I suspect if they only had on road hacking & a clay hill field the answers would be different.
 
We have one (since Nov last year) and its great. We are on very heavy clay so we rapidly go from bog to concrete hard. My daughter does school and jump in the field too when weather permits. Ours is only just having its fencing put round and we have a 2m grass margin around it to stop fence hugging, and to make a good starvation paddock
 
Given the recent weather I want an indoor school (and while we are at it, gallops, horsewalker, solarium, hot water shower for horses and someone to do my housework).
 
patterdale said:
No!

I wouldn't have an arena even if I WAS allowed one!

Schooling in an open space is much better IMO. No fences to hang on and the horses don't go nuts on the rare occasions that their feet actually touch grass (usually at a competition!)

:D
Click to expand...

It's fine if you have a large space available, but I don't. I do school in our field when conditions allow, but at the moment it's very slippery. I also have limited grazing so I don't like it to get too cut up, and hacking straight from home involves a lot of road work. At least with an arena I could ride at home all year round. :)

On the flip side I do have proper stabling, electricity, water and fencing and love having my lot at home. Life is a compromise. :)
 
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