Tell me about life with no arena and no trailer

Boulty

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If there's someone up the road with a school I'd definitely be putting a polite note through the door (you'd likely have to pay in one way or another of course) they may say no but if you don't ask you don't get. Do they have children with ponies, if so I wonder if they would like a friend to ride with...

I hire the arena at the livery yard down the road about once a week after I randomly came across one of their liveries on a Highland pony group I'm in & she put me in touch with their YM.

Also as long as it's not sopping wet, deep & muddy depends on if you're lucky with drainage I guess) there's a lot you can do in walk either inhand or ridden with a few poles, cones, maybe a hula hoop, some tarpaulin etc. (You can get some really good freestanding battery lights these days) Ditto if your yard has a decent area of hardstanding (I do groundwork on an area of roadplanings a few times a week in winter when field too wet to do anything)
 

FestiveFuzz

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I figured there would be that kind of issue, but I can't exactly ask to borrow it for nothing & if they were going to offer they'd have done so by now. Meanwhile it sits unused, hey ho. Seems to be what it boils down to with everything these days, same reason why kids can't just go & help people out with their horses any more. :-(

I think the struggle for those of us fortunate enough to have arenas of our own is it’s just not worth the liability risk. Our insurance were explicitly clear that we’re covered for personal usage only, and whilst I’d like to think anyone I allowed to use it would be reasonable in the event of an accident, if they’re suddenly faced with life changing injuries who knows what they’d do. It’s not about not wanting to help someone out, and all about not wanting to be bankrupted if god forbid the worst did happen.
 

honetpot

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My children hardly rode from October to March, sometimes we did a show at Christmas, but that was about it. We lived in a commuter village so often hacking was going around the estate and a trip to the shop for some sweets and longer hack at the weekend, that included going under a pedestrian under pass as the village was divided by a dual carriageway.
Our trailer was sound but tatty, an old Rice, and was towed by the family saloon. I think if the child is happy and the pony is happy, no matter what you do it can be fun.
We always shared our ponies with older children, they helped and it gave my daughters a rest from the nagging mum.
We didn’t have a school, so it was a small paddock or riding quarters in on the road an leg yield when there was no traffic, on side roads.
We used to use the trailer a lot, we did PC and small shows when they were younger, just for the trip out, neither of my daughters were competitive.
 

fawaz

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I would put a note in the people with the arena's letter box asking if they would like to rent their arena for your daughter to have lessons and/or ride with their kid/s (if they had one) if your daughter is keen to feed, brush and handle her pony then rig up some lights for her so she can in the evenings (a portable flood light running off a car battery is cheap and portable).

Get an instructor to come to your field every weekend, put up a small shelter for them to stand in while they teach to make it a little more enticing, your daughter will be fine with a coat in the rain/wind/cold.

If she would like to do some lunging, ground work in the evenings then get some hot tape and star pickets and mark out a make shift round yard for her near the lighting and you can make the ground a bit better by buying bags of sand to spread around the perimeter.

I never had an arena or safe hacking growing up and the place I kept my horse had no power or running water but we still managed, we made do and because we were determined we made it happen. We begged and borrowed lifts with people to PC and shows. Only got to ride in an arena at Pony Club each month and didn't have any parental help or support but managed to get to shows and have clean well presented ponies.

Our ponies were washed with buckets of water out of the cattle trough. We did all of the above and I managed to event my horses and had other peoples to train too as a teenager.
 

Poingsettia

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OP, if I recall you are up north like me. I’m faced with a similar dilemma, having no one to ride with. The few hacking routes I have are all on rural roads. Minimal traffic but very boring! My land is mixed woodland and not suitable for riding on.
I don’t have a trailer, and current legislation scuppered my plans to get one. I’m sticking out the winter with no riding, and moving my mare to a livery yard from spring. I’ll decide if I want to stay there for next winter, but distance is a big issue. It’s the only way I can get access to facilities and riding company.
Arena hire is possible providing you can get there in the first place!
 

Poingsettia

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This isn't a snidey comment at all, merely an observation on how ( relatively) quickly things have changed - when I was a child with a pony, I didn't know anyone with a school or a trailer, some if us didn't even have a saddle .... I feel very old!
Times have definitely changed. I grew up abroad and it was very rough and ready. No arenas or trailers unless you were rich. However it was a hot dry climate, so less issues with riding in fields.

Ive found keeping horses in the UK a huge learning curve! Scottish weather can be challenging. ?
 

teddypops

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This isn't a snidey comment at all, merely an observation on how ( relatively) quickly things have changed - when I was a child with a pony, I didn't know anyone with a school or a trailer, some if us didn't even have a saddle .... I feel very old!
No one had schools or trailers when I was a kid. We rode in our fields, jumping home made obstacles rather than jumps and hacked for miles in all weathers and enjoyed every minute. When we had too much snow to ride out on the roads, we rigged up a harness and got our ponies pulling a sledge! It’s only in the e last 10 years I have had a school and a trailer.
 

teddypops

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Times have definitely changed. I grew up abroad and it was very rough and ready. No arenas or trailers unless you were rich. However it was a hot dry climate, so less issues with riding in fields.

Ive found keeping horses in the UK a huge learning curve! Scottish weather can be challenging. ?
I’m from Aberdeenshire but now live in Gloucestershire, I much prefer the Aberdeenshire winter weather than the constant rain in Gloucestershire.
 

southerncomfort

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If someone hires their arena, they need public liability insurance, which is several hundred pounds a year.

A few local riders have asked if I would hire mine out but when I looked in to costs it would have been around £700 a year. And that's assuming your local council don't find out and start charging you business rates on your school.

Would have been nice in terms of getting to know a few people here but given they only wanted to pay a fiver an hour it was a non starter!
 

dorsetladette

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When my daughter was small we only had a field and it was wet and horrible in the winter. The ponies pretty much had the winter off (dec -mar) as it was dark either end of the day during the week. Our hacking wasn't brilliant, but was enough to get them out round the block at weekends. I had to rely on OH to tow the trailer at the time so we didn't really have the option to hire local schools etc. From Mar to Nov to ponies were ridden most days (progressing as the nights grew lighter) and we attended local riding club events rather than pony club.

I honestly don't think it hurt child or pony to just chill for a few weeks while the weather is rubbish and then start again. It worked for us anyway.
 

bonnysmum

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I would put a note in the people with the arena's letter box asking if they would like to rent their arena for your daughter to have lessons and/or ride with their kid/s (if they had one) if your daughter is keen to feed, brush and handle her pony then rig up some lights for her so she can in the evenings (a portable flood light running off a car battery is cheap and portable).

Get an instructor to come to your field every weekend, put up a small shelter for them to stand in while they teach to make it a little more enticing, your daughter will be fine with a coat in the rain/wind/cold.

If she would like to do some lunging, ground work in the evenings then get some hot tape and star pickets and mark out a make shift round yard for her near the lighting and you can make the ground a bit better by buying bags of sand to spread around the perimeter.

I never had an arena or safe hacking growing up and the place I kept my horse had no power or running water but we still managed, we made do and because we were determined we made it happen. We begged and borrowed lifts with people to PC and shows. Only got to ride in an arena at Pony Club each month and didn't have any parental help or support but managed to get to shows and have clean well presented ponies.

Our ponies were washed with buckets of water out of the cattle trough. We did all of the above and I managed to event my horses and had other peoples to train too as a teenager.

Replying to this but thanks for all the other comments in a similar vein. We are very rough & ready here too! Water is filled everyday with buckets out of the river, no power but as you say I will look at getting a battery/solar powered light for the stable. We're not actually saving money as she does have a stable here (to use as & when she feels like it), which consequently needs bedding (& mucking out), whereas at the yard she was just on grass livery. But this is all what owning a pony is about, so I'm perfectly happy with this and so is my daughter. But yes, it's tough when my contacts in the horsey world, such as they are, have trailers & go to competitions and generally do lots of stuff all year round so it makes me feel as if I'm letting them both down. I probably just need to relax about it and stop worrying as I'm sure the pony is absolutely fine and enjoying her well-earned break after 10 years in a riding school.

Just a question though, how small is too small for schooling? The space we have is definitely not big enough to canter in for example. It's probably only about 15 by 15 metres that's suitable for riding at this time of year. Obviously the ponies have much more space to roam in!
 

windand rain

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A pony should manage to canter a 15 meter circle but jumping might be difficult so small. We have a grass school 20x40 which is ridable whn the ground is soft enough so not frozen or baked hard. In summer it is allowed to grow a bit more to provide a cushion so lasts a bit longer in dry weather. I also water it from time to time
 

dorsetladette

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Just a question though, how small is too small for schooling? The space we have is definitely not big enough to canter in for example. It's probably only about 15 by 15 metres that's suitable for riding at this time of year. Obviously the ponies have much more space to roam in!

I think you could get some work out of a 15 x 15m area (depending on size of pony) I think a big enough area to lunge in is a big enough area to school in for short sessions.
 

fawaz

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I think you could get some work out of a 15 x 15m area (depending on size of pony) I think a big enough area to lunge in is a big enough area to school in for short sessions.
Definitely agree that you should be able to canter on a moderately schooled horse. If not, work on the balance and transitions in the trot and give the pony a canter on the lunge to build up balancec and strength as it should definitely be fine to canter on the lunge in that size area. I would try and light this area too and then your daughter should be able to ride in the evenings.
 

Northern Hare

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Just a question though, how small is too small for schooling? The space we have is definitely not big enough to canter in for example. It's probably only about 15 by 15 metres that's suitable for riding at this time of year. Obviously the ponies have much more space to roam in!

To help your daughter and her pony make best use of the space available for schooling, what about getting some small marker cones, and ask your instructor to set some challenges to practice when schooling. For example, making turns or transitions at precise spots to help with steering and control of the paces. You can then build up the complexity of the exercises.

Here's an example of the cones: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Juvale-Inc...ocphy=1007076&hvtargid=pla-378103100056&psc=1
 
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I'm Dun

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I'd be shocked if you could keep an area that small suitable to ride in more than a one off. I certainly wouldnt want to be cantering 15m circles on wet grass and or muddy ground!
 

windand rain

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I'd be shocked if you could keep an area that small suitable to ride in more than a one off. I certainly wouldnt want to be cantering 15m circles on wet grass and or muddy ground!
depends on the ground we have very sandy well drained soil and even mid winter can use the grass school as long as its not frozen. Used daily in holidays about 3 times a week term time
 

MotherOfChickens

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depends on the ground we have very sandy well drained soil and even mid winter can use the grass school as long as its not frozen. Used daily in holidays about 3 times a week term time

You are lucky-I don’t know of any ground around here that wouldn’t be a foot deep if you tried to ride on it, Scottish gley is horrid from end October through to march.
 

palo1

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A few local riders have asked if I would hire mine out but when I looked in to costs it would have been around £700 a year. And that's assuming your local council don't find out and start charging you business rates on your school.

Would have been nice in terms of getting to know a few people here but given they only wanted to pay a fiver an hour it was a non starter!

Not wanting to de-rail the thread but this drives me mad! Where we are, there are not many riding centres/ECs around so increasingly people are wanting to put in their own arenas - the vast majority of which are used very little as they are generally for 1 owner. The environmental cost of an arena, particularly in a sensitive area is quite high, not to mention the actual financial cost to the owner and I wish the local planners and councils would stipulate in fact that any new arena should in fact be available to hire (at a standard 'market' rate) for a number of days per year. That way, there would be less impact and more access. I understand the insurance issue but public liability and personal insurance are things people should have if they are going out and about anyway surely?
 

J&S

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Palo, to counter this point: I know of people who have had to promise that their arenas are for personal use only because the planners do not want extra (horse) traffic in the area! You know, tail backs caused by multiple trailers/lorries on small roads.
 
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Goldenstar

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I don’t let anyone except a couple of friends use my arena .
It’s just to risky to let people you don’t know use one .
Why on earth should people be forced into business rates and commercial insurance so others can visit their homes and be a nuisance .
My yard access and and parking is totally unsuitable for public use perhaps I need to build a car park just others can rock up and use my home .
 

southerncomfort

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Not wanting to de-rail the thread but this drives me mad! Where we are, there are not many riding centres/ECs around so increasingly people are wanting to put in their own arenas - the vast majority of which are used very little as they are generally for 1 owner. The environmental cost of an arena, particularly in a sensitive area is quite high, not to mention the actual financial cost to the owner and I wish the local planners and councils would stipulate in fact that any new arena should in fact be available to hire (at a standard 'market' rate) for a number of days per year. That way, there would be less impact and more access. I understand the insurance issue but public liability and personal insurance are things people should have if they are going out and about anyway surely?

I do have PL insurance but was told it wouldn't cover me if someone else had an accident in my school. I'd need separate cover at considerable cost, plus business rates if I were assessed by the council.

I'd be severely out of pocket so it's just not worthwhile.

It's not a case of me not wanting to share...like I say, I really struggled to get to know local riders when I moved here and I thought it would be a good way to meet people...but I'd have to have riders in there all day 7 days a week to make it viable.
 

palo1

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Palo, to counter this point: I know of people who have had to promise that their arenas are for personal use only because the planners do not want extra (horse) traffic in the area! You know, tail backs caused by multiple trailers/lorries on small roads.

Yes, I understand that but limited use (say proof of hire for 30 days a year for example) would be reasonable I think.
 

windand rain

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40 years ago arenas were for the rich and famous 99% of riders schooled on grass, hacking out or if lucky enough to be near enough the beach. A very very exclusive few even had surfaces at equestrian centres most of them were on grass or more accurately a mud pit hammered down by hundreds of feet. Think the horse world has taken a nose dive in ingenuity and practicalities. Everyone thinks it is essential whereas the most important welfare issues come from the use of schools and big bale hay dumped in fields
 

palo1

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I don’t let anyone except a couple of friends use my arena .
It’s just to risky to let people you don’t know use one .
Why on earth should people be forced into business rates and commercial insurance so others can visit their homes and be a nuisance .
My yard access and and parking is totally unsuitable for public use perhaps I need to build a car park just others can rock up and use my home .

I didn't mean that exactly! What I was getting at was that for environmental reasons it 'might' be more responsible if when an arena was put in place there was some kind of community benefit to mitigate the impact of that arena. I am not suggesting that anybody could just rock up to visit your home at any time but if you are going to put in an arena which is not a necessity (unless you are a professional) then there maybe should be some kind of wider benefit to that and that might mitigate maybe 6 or 7 people feeling they needed to put in an arena in one area. I get that people want their privacy and to maintain their own facilities too. There could be ways to make this work but to be really honest I have seen no end of arenas put in that are very little used and have quite a significant impact in terms of materials etc. All too often, after a few years the arena is pretty grim and they are an eyesore unless very cleverly landscaped. I know not everyone will agree with me but I also know that in our village if one more person wanted to put in an arena there would be very little tolerance to that - there are 4 private arenas in a very local area that most people in the village/community just have no idea of the 'need' for. I have some lovely neighbours that I get on very well with that put in a huge 60x40 on a very sensitive bit of land - it had been a meadow for ever; now a huge black rectangle that everyone moans about and which is used maybe once or twice a week! I understand that people are entitled to spend their money how they wish of course and we should be allowed to make choices of our own but I do think that negotiation over limited public use of arenas could be a good thing.
 

FestiveFuzz

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Not wanting to de-rail the thread but this drives me mad! Where we are, there are not many riding centres/ECs around so increasingly people are wanting to put in their own arenas - the vast majority of which are used very little as they are generally for 1 owner. The environmental cost of an arena, particularly in a sensitive area is quite high, not to mention the actual financial cost to the owner and I wish the local planners and councils would stipulate in fact that any new arena should in fact be available to hire (at a standard 'market' rate) for a number of days per year. That way, there would be less impact and more access. I understand the insurance issue but public liability and personal insurance are things people should have if they are going out and about anyway surely?

But you’re forgetting often this is someone’s house you’re expecting access to. We’re on a private access road and have barely enough parking for our own vehicles so the only way to allow this would be to provide access to one of our paddocks for parking. The luxury of having everything at home is I can run to my own schedule, not try to fit around everyone and their dog who’ve decided they should have access to my arena as it’s not used enough in their opinion. If someone local had a swimming pool or tennis court would you expect to use that too?

There’s plenty of things I want but don’t have, that’s just life sadly. As a kid my loan horse was kept privately, just a stable and a field. Occasionally I’d fashion some jumps out of buckets and old fencing but mostly we’d just hack for miles and on a Friday we’d hack to the local pony club and back. I loved it and used to pretend I was Jinny off on another adventure (loan horse was a chestnut Arab x) ? I made do as it was that or not have a horse at all.

As an adult it was years before I could afford a horsebox. I moved yards to be within hacking distance of certain venues and went on grass livery to save pennies for competitions/transport. Occasionally a friend would offer a lift which was always appreciated, but never expected. Essentially I adjusted my priorities to fit my budget and wants at the time. If having an arena is important to you, livery somewhere that has one. If that’s not an option, get creative. Are there other liveries that would be keen to share transport/arena hire? Is there a spare paddock that the YO might let you use as a schooling area for a cost perhaps?
 
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windand rain

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Perhaps it is time for the powers that be refuse planning permission and build arenas and car parks close to horse centered areas and then anyone could use them That is a joke obviously but it would be nice in dream land where people didn't abuse things and could be ordered in their approach
 

palo1

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But you’re forgetting often this is someone’s house you’re expecting access to. We’re on a private access road and have barely enough parking for our own vehicles so the only way to allow this would be to provide access to one of our paddocks for parking. The luxury of having everything at home is I can run to my own schedule, not try to fit around everyone and their dog who’ve decided they should access to my arena as it’s not used enough in their opinion. If someone local had a swimming pool or tennis court would you expect to use that too?

There’s plenty of things I want but don’t have, that’s just life sadly. As a kid my loan horse was kept privately, just a stable and a field. Occasionally I’d fashion some jumps out of buckets and old fencing but mostly we’d just hack for miles and on a Friday we’d hack to the local pony club and back. I loved it and used to pretend I was Jinny off on another adventure (loan horse was a chestnut Arab x) ? I made do as it was that or not have a horse at all.

As an adult it was years before I could afford a horsebox. I moved yards to be within hacking distance of certain venues and went on grass livery to save pennies for competitions/transport. Occasionally a friend would offer a lift which was always appreciated, but never expected. Essentially I adjusted my priorities to fit my budget and wants at the time. If having an arena is important to you, livery somewhere that has one. If that’s not an option, get creative. Are there other liveries that would be keen to share transport/arena hire? Is there a spare paddock that the YO might let you use as a schooling area for a cost perhaps?

Yes, I know there are issues with privacy and access. I guess it is a personal bugbear of mine but I live somewhere where I have seen numerous arenas put in and whilst as an equestrian (without access to an arena) I get how incredibly useful that facility is, I can't help also but see the impact of this kind of land damage. Sorry, I know it's not a popular view and I am not intending to offend anyone at all. I too make decisions about how to use my money that others might disagree with and no, I would not particularly want to be forced to make any of my facilities public as it were if I had a lovely arena but it is still something that along with every other form of consumption and development that we all need to think about.
 
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