Preference on arena fencing or low boards

[ponios]

We are in the process of putting in a planning application for an arena.

I personally think that the planners might prefer the look of boards rather than fencing and I think I also would prefer it as I am always nervous of stubbing my toe on the fence. The field that we want to put the arena in is seen by the road though it is higher than the road and behind a 1.5m wall so it would be nice to hide it from the road and maintain the more natural looking setting.

The arena is to be in a field that is not that much bigger than the arena so if horse did get loose, it would be contained. However some people have said to me that they think it is dangerous to have boards with the view that you are in more trouble if you fall off onto them. Others have said they they much prefer not having fencing.

What are your thoughts? Any concerns of horse safety with low boards? Is there anything I may not have considered in this decision.

 

[Leandy]

How will the arena be used? If it is for mainly say dressage for reasonably educated horses and riders, then I would go for boards as it is more aesthetically pleasing and you avoid them "leaning" on the fences so much when schooling. If you want to use it for novice riders/backing/bringing on very green horses or for a lot of jumping, I would want fencing. There is a danger of horses tripping over just boards I think if not sufficiently controlled/educated. If you want to loose school or loose jump in it then reasonably high fencing will be essential.

 

[ester]

don't have a bank and a low board with a big enough gap for the horse to get wedged in given recent photos.

 

[blitznbobs]

I have boards then a fence set back from the boards about 2m ... stops the horses leaning but also if you want to turn out in there you can and also if you fall off the horse is contained

 

[ycbm]

I only have boards, a deliberate choice to stop horses mentally 'leaning' on the fence. My instructor, a GP level rider, has the same for the same reason.


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[The Fuzzy Furry]

On another tack...I've really enjoyed riding in the local polo yards surfaced arena's. Fully boarded to 4 or 5 ft high all the way round, stops most critters from getting in, really gets my Fuzzies attention on me too

 

[oldie48]

I have problems with squirrels and rabbits digging in the arena. It is such a pain. We have fencing but I put a plastic clematis fencing around the bottom, hoping it would keep the rabbits out but they just ate through it. I sometimes think I exist just to keep the local wildlife fed (from my kitchen garden) and entertained! I hope you have better luck, and good luck with the planning!

 

[ycbm]

I have problems with squirrels and rabbits digging in the arena. It is such a pain. We have fencing but I put a plastic clematis fencing around the bottom, hoping it would keep the rabbits out but they just ate through it. I sometimes think I exist just to keep the local wildlife fed (from my kitchen garden) and entertained! I hope you have better luck, and good luck with the planning!

I ran an electric wire round the top to keep ponies in - and the rabbiit digging stopped!

 

[Skib]

I love low white boards. I learned to ride late in life and at an early lesson was terrified when another student crashed into the wooden walls. I remained frightened of the fences round schools.
When at last I was offered a dressage lesson in a school with low white boards, I was overjoyed and rode so well that the RI asked why. She told me that most students hated riding in white boards as the horse could go over them. She also mentioned leaning on the fence, which to be honest I didnt understand.
She never mentioned falling onto boards and that never entered my head.

 

[Red-1]

I use mine for winter turnout so fencing is essential at home.

For educating beyond a very green baby I actually prefer boards only.

 

[ycbm]

'Leaning on the fence' is an interesting thing, Skib. Many horses, when you take the fence away and put them in a dressage arena, start wobbling about or dont turn the corner because theres no fence to make them. So if you're going to compete, it's better to train without them.

 

[ester]

Alternatively fences are very useful for some training too.

 

[soloequestrian]

I have the boards with set back fence combination as described above, for the reasons described above. I smacked my foot off the fence at a dressage competition because my horse is so used to going along close to the boards. You can't win.

 

[milliepops]

I'd go with a fence. It's more versatile. I just ride my more established horses on an inner track quite a bit to make sure they are independent of the fence.

I love an arena with just boards but for home use I find the fence very useful.

 

[SlinkyMinxy]

I live in a very windy area and have a fence around my arena - if I didn't, I would have lost most of my surface by now! I have mesh on the bottom half of the fence but even so some of the surface (rubber shreds) still escapes if we have a storm.

 

[Tonto_]

We have a fence it I wouldn't ride the horse I ride in anywhere without a fence as we'd try to canter and just keep going into the distance (he's a work in progress)

 

[ycbm]

How big is the proposed arena? A twenty by forty gets pretty tight if you are riding on the inside track to stop the horse leaning on the fence.

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