Small arena exercises

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Merlod

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As the weather has been not very nice recently I have been hiring the only indoor arena that I can hack to. I paced it out today and it's just under 30x30! Most times i've used it before is just to lunge. Any suggestions for flatwork exercises in a smaller space?

I was thinking poles and transitions as I have a big moving welsh D, he does tend to curl up into a little ball at times and can get a little on the forehand - i'd quite like some lessons but it's a first come first serve basis - so basically it's tough luck if someones already in it when you get there which wouldn't be ideal for a pre-arranged lesson, so I am on my own for now. I defo won't be jumping in this space!
 
Cavaletti are good, we jump in our arena which is about 18x 23m (have managed 3 jumps well placed to make a diddy course not of any great height), lots of spirals and shallow loops too
 
I can do a novice dressage test on my 16.3hh ID in a 20x10, plus the various lateral movements, so you can pretty much do anything dressage-wise. Just keep the pace slow and steady, which will really help with a horse that is on the forehand anyway.
 
The yard i was at last winter had a 25x25 indoor - you can jump a couple of small fences as it's only like jumping on a circle. It's ideal for pole work but make sure you've left a track around the edge for warming up etc.
As leflynn says there's loads of flatwork exercises you can do - if he's on his forehand, splitting the school into half and making transitions every time you reach the halfway mark is a brillant one to help him engage more. Draw the area of the school on a piece of paper before you go to ride, and doodle in all the places you can do smaller circles and make turns and transitions so that you've got a plan and don't just ride aimlessly round and round!
 
Thanks for all the ideas. I love the idea of drawing out the arena and planning the exercises, think that will really help me get off the track!
 
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