just when I was ready to try affiliated....

[parsley]

all the competitions near me for Noveber seem to be long arena!!!

Is this a lot more difficult than short arena, especially when I havn't got the facilities to practise

 

[Santa_Claus]

personally i like long arena tests as you have more room especially when riding a 17h2!! The only harder thing is if you have to maintain a proper medium/extended trot across a full diagonal as obviously far longer distance but if your starting out affiliated most you will be doing i presume is novice so you only have to show a few medium trot strides anyway.

I think people just get scared of long arenas as they are so much bigger with extra letters but I far prefer them

 

[Bossanova]

From the perspective of learning the test its harder but its actually much easier to ride a test in a long arena- much more space and time to think!!

 

[Amy_08]

No I much prefer long arena. It does seem daunting, but once you've done one you'll be fine.

 

[parsley]

hmmm OK thanks everyone! Maybe I will set some markers out in the field to have a practice

 

[hotellie]

i was soooo nervous about doing a test in a long arena at the champs but actually i love it now and i feel further away from the judge!

 

[K27]

I would definately go for long arena tests any day!- why not give it a try- the horses find it easier to hold their balance in a long arena as well.

You could always get your first long arena test called so that you have a reminder of where you are going. Good luck!

 

[star]

i used to practice them in my 20x40m arena - if you can manage it in that, then everything's so much easier in the full size arena!

 

[custard]

Easier I think but they seem to pack more into the tests!

 

[Dutch]

I think you will be fine, my first affiliated competition was at elementary level in a long arena even though we did not have a long arena at that time, so try not to worry. If you had a caller too then that would give you confidence. I would say go for it!

Good luck!