Thank you - plus Q about arena sizes/shapes

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Dear H&H forum users

Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone who got in touch with their tips for our summer management feature. A number of your suggestions have made it into the magazine, which will be on sale 2 June.

Secondly, I’d like to ask you for your help again please, this time for a feature about the shape of arenas. Have you ridden in a tiny or an enormous arena? Have you squeezed an arena into the only available space left on your land? Do you have strong views about what shape and size an arena should be? Do you or your trainer have strong feelings about what size an arena should be?

We are looking for individuals who have experience of odd shaped arenas, either riding in them or having one fitted. If you would be prepared to be interviewed about your arena experiences and opinions, please email jaki_bell@ipcmedia.com explaining briefly what your experience involved. You input will be really appreciated.

Many thanks

Jaki, H&H deputy editor
 
i've ridden in huge arenas, which were lovely, that would always be my preference! i've ridden in an L-shaped arena which worked surprisingly well actually, could build an interesting course including across the diagonal from one rectangular piece to the next.
i have had 25 x 50, 23 x 60 and 20 x 60 arenas, and found the 23 x 60 to be best.
given the choice, i'd have a 20 x 60 for flatwork, a separate 60 x 60 arena for jumping with a permanent course, and a separate lungeing pen. but then, wouldn't everyone?!
 
We've got western horses, one of which is also ridden English and does a bit of dressage.
For western, the bigger the better, as a reining arena can be any size from 60x20 upwards and the rider is expected to use all the space during the pattern. The upshot is that you need to get the horses fit enough and used to running in such a huge space, especially if you want to compete internationally.

At the yard which our trainer rented previously, the arena was an 80m x 35m outdoor. It could comfortably accommodate five or six horses working independently, but was a bit lonely when riding alone!
To school the horse 'English style' I had to constantly remind myself to work on circles and shapes rather than trundle along the long side, and but it was good to ride different figures without having the walls to rely on.

The new yard has an indoor 50x25m - and the past two winters have been a serious reality check that if you want to keep young horses going consistently over the winter and ready for the early shows, you do need a 'roof'.
The smaller space is completely workable even with a lot of horses to work each day, but we are not able to rely on arena work to get them fit enough. Fortunately we have much better hacking at this yard, so some horses that have come from Europe and not really experienced the great outdoors have had a very entertaining spring!
 
we have a small arena just due to space at our livery its about 15x30 but does the job... i think as long as you have good access to riding areas it doesnt matter horses get bored of schooling and in a trade off i'd rather have a smaller arena and good all year hacking that the opposite... (we are on the south downs way) although as everyone especially with snow would kill for an indoor arena especially with 2 ex racehorses!!
 
Many thanks for your feedback - I'm the freelance writer putting the piece together for H&H on odd shaped arenas. I'd love to hear other stories, so please keep them coming!
 
ironhorse said:
Fortunately we have much better hacking at this yard, so some horses that have come from Europe and not really experienced the great outdoors have had a very entertaining spring!
Click to expand...
Well thank goodness that at least one of them is truly relishing her forays into the great outdoors ;))
 
At my livery yard we also have a 15x30 school.( obviously smaller than your average) but we have miles and miles of hacking which the bridle path runs straight off our yard,we also have so much grazing,would rather make do with a small school than lack of all year hacking as another poster said.atm i am only using it to lunge my youngster in which is more than enough space for that purpose.
 
I think the worst type of arena to ride in is a small square as you never manage to straighten your horse up, you are effectively riding a permanent circle.

Was very briefly on a yard with a 30' x 30' arena but moved on after 8 weeks as struggled to get any decent schooling done with my youngster.
 
I've been on a yard with a 12x15m 'arena'! Even with just a ponio, I found that hard going so I don't know how those with 15hh plus horses managed. I also used to be at a yard that had an approximately 10/11m radius slightly oval lunge ring, that the YO classed as an arena. How anyone was supposed to ride in that for more than a few minutes without getting dizzy I don't know.
 
I had a shed on my parents' farm filled with builders sand (my Grandpa did it as a present for me, God rest his soul), it is 10 by 15 metres! Titchy. It was ok for loose schooling and lunging but that was it really, even the ponies found it tricky. However we did have a 16.3 IDxTb who could canter figures of 8 and do flying changes in the middle of it but he was just super special!

We're currently putting in a 30x30 woodchip area for turnout (both horses are lammies, grr!) and schooling in at my new house, just because that is the space we have in that particular area and I have to fit stables next to it too.
 
Ours is quite small - not sure exactly but certainly doesn't seem quite 20x40! The advantage is that when you go and compete the arena seems big!!
 
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