Unlevel arena for dressage - built on a slope - is it a major issue?

Andiamo

Andiamo

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I just moved yards...and after riding in the arena, I realised during my very first circuit of it that it is very unlevel. It is built on a slope and is probably a good 1-2 feet lower at the end of the long side. Additionally it slopes down the short side as well, so it is sloping on two planes. It is really difficult to ride in, I can't keep a rhythm, because we're either speeding up or slowing down, and circles are tricky, it also unbalances me, I am concentrating more on re-organising my balance in the saddle and stirrups than on the actual riding.

Also, it doesn't get harrowed at all, so we do also disappear down holes occasionally. I'm a wee bit worried on two counts: 1) that it could cause injury to the horse; 2) that working on dressage is going to be near impossible if I can't keep a steady rhythm due to the surface slope (we're constantly going uphill /downhill). I am right to be concerned? It is a lovely yard in every other respect, I love it :)

I only do dressage, it's my reason for being...

There is a small indoor arena, which is flat & level, with a strange surface that I'm not that keen on... I just prefer to ride him outside, because most of our tests are in outside arenas, and he is a nervous Nelly...i.e. if he isn't ridden outdoors, he'll be a twit if we go to do a test in an outdoor arena... if you see what I mean.

Anyone else have experience of riding on an unlevel surface? any issues?
 
I would certainly worry about tendon injuries if it is deep/heavy/holey.

In theory the slope shouldn't cause a problem, IMO, lots of rebalancing half halts. But it really doesn't sound ideal for schooling.

What surface is the indoor arena?

If the hacking is good, there are lots of exercises that you can do whilst riding out. Shoulder in, travers, renvers, half passes etc - obviously only do those in safe situations!

Lots of competing dressage riders don't have access to arenas - Stef Croxford and the gorgeous Mr President for example :D
 
thanks misterjay.
The indoor has a very hard old compacted surface of pure sand. On top of this they have recently put a thin fluffy layer of finely shredded carpet. So, it is really hard, but with a very thin soft bit of topping. It's a bit like putting lipstick on a pig... :p
 
A 2% slope (80cm/more than 2 feet drop on a 40m arena) is standard construction for arenas for drainage, but you really shouldn't be able to feel it much, if at all, so I guess yours is more than that and was a cheap construction.
 
marydoll said:
Didnt you check the state of the arena befor you moved ?
That would be one of my first checks
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I did check it when I visited, I stepped in it to test the surface, walked around it looking for holes etc. But I didn't notice the slopes in it until I rode in it. Most of the other liveries are happy hackers, so they don't use the school. The only other person who uses the school also says how wonky it is and difficult to ride in. It's such a pain, I really like the yard otherwise, but it makes schooling quite tricky.
 
I school a great deal on a prepared grass area it's rolled harrowed and is mown weekly over the summer it is on a slope .
I like it it makes you ride better is excellent for the horses balance i lunge on it in canter it really helps them progess. so the arena being on the slope would not trouble me at all.
However there's no way I will use a surface that's badly cared for I drive thirty minutes to an indoor because I don't like the way the one five mins away is cared for.
 
I'm at a yard where there is a noticable slope to the arena and it's a bit less than 20x40. To start with it was really horrible - now my horse not only has amazing balance but his marks are really good out eventing because in general the arenas are more level than the one at home and if not, we know how to deal with it. I actually think it is a positive thing now! I've led the dressage on sub-30 scores more than once this season, a highlight being a 25 in a strong BE100open section at Hambleden, so if I can use it to my advantage, so can you ;)
 
I would not personally be panicking about the slope, it will take a bit of getting used to, but the surfaces would worry me. I can't help but think the poor surface at our previous yard has been a major factor in my 6 year old developing spavin so early....
 
You would prob get used to the slope, as others have said it will prob help your horse develop really good balance.

The holes/depth would be unacceptable to me though. Having had a horse pts due to chronic suspensory damage I've said never again.
 
^^^^ Baa

Slope not a massive issue, will teach you how to balance your horse!

However poor surface is more concerning.
 
Imagine how good your tests will be when your on a level arena :cool: as others have said the slope wouldnt worry me but a bad surface would. Being a real fen folk when we moved to uni the pony really struggled with the sightest of slopes (and I'm told that its not hilly in essex ;)) but a few months later we didnt notice them :).
 
wellsat said:
You would prob get used to the slope, as others have said it will prob help your horse develop really good balance.

The holes/depth would be unacceptable to me though. Having had a horse pts due to chronic suspensory damage I've said never again.
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This, and since the horse needs to work harder to balance and keep a rhythm, he'll be very fit in a short time (but at first will get tired quickly, so keep sessions short).

At least in my experience at my last yard (not the readon I left).
 
Thank you everyone for your replies.

The slope is tricky, but I can see a lot of you are coping just fine with it in your own sloping arenas :)

I do need to chat with the YO about the arena surface...it is really dire, there are really deep holes, and it does make my horse stumble quite badly.
I don't think they have harrowing equipment...I will speak to them today to ask what the chances are of having it harrowed.
 
I'm sure one of the ODGs or dressage greats wrote recommending a sloping arena as it's so good for the horse's balance (and the rider's riding!). The holes would worry me, but then I'm always amused by the fact some of our liveries can ride/ lunge and not leave any sign of their presence in the manege, whereas others will result in the manege needing to be levelled again. I can generally tell who has been in there last. Perhaps ask the YO if it could be levelled/ harrowed more regularly (or simply ask how often it is done to prompt them gently)?
 
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