What size do I need - arena?

YummyHorses

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So guys I am having an arena built later this year (just going through planning at the moment) and am unsure what size to go for. I show jump and have a daughter who is still learning so unsure whether she will need dressage length in the future or not.

I have been blessed with exercising in a 60m by 40m in recent years but found I could almost read a book in between jumps. Have also been jumping in a 60m by 20m and that has really sharpened me up with my ability to jump out of the corners and off the rails massively improving.

So what would you go for? What works for people? Of course I would love a massive school but I need to realistic as it is so costly.

Thanks in advance.
 
i wiuld go for as big as you can afford to build well, but a minimum of 20 by 40. tho i think you will be governed by what the planners will allow. what size have you specified on your planing application?
 
Im not that sensible though and dont want to build something which I wont use or need. I am applying for a 60m by 25m. BUT is this really necessary for a home arena which will only have a maximum of 2 horses in there at any one time. Would be nice to keep up the jumps and still be able to school. Dunno - please help chaps? A friend suggested a 30m by 40m?
 
i have a 20 by 40 and can fit a grid of 5 up one side, a double across one diagonal, and a related distance on the other side and still manage to school round. how many jumps do you want to put up?
 
Sorry for the rather slow response! I dont want a course but will need a treble, distance and space for grid work. I was surprised by the number of jumps/options you manage to fit in a 20 by 40. My daughter who is still learning will need a good amount of space, she cant be doing with too many things in the way.....maybe a 50 by 25 but then will I always be kicking myself for not going the extra 10 and having it suitable for dressage!!!
 
If you can build the larger option go for it. We have a 30 x 40 which can accommodate a short straight forward course happily, but you do start getting a bit squashed with more complicated grids/triples/related distances.
 
If you can afford to build a 60 x 25, then build it! Believe me, bigger the better :) You can always put poles on the floor to make a smaller area if you need to!

Also don't forget to get excellent drainage and a good surface, you'll have nightmares if you skimp on either of these.
 
Thanks guys - I think I am gunna try and go for the bigger arena. All the pricing is based on a 50 by 25 but I might ask them to price up a 60 by 25. We have made the planning application for a 60 by 25 so we have options.

Any recommendations for contractors to build the arena - fairly happy with the people I have got the pricing from but always good to see if there are any others out there. Recommendations for South West/East area? And those firms to avoid!
 
Funnily enough, was just discussing this the other night. In an ideal world, I would have a 65x 30, or certainly no less than 25m wide.

That way you can have a dressage arena 'inside' from the sides, and not have the horse leaning on the sides - if you see what I mean.

If I had to have smaller, it would be 22 x 42 ish, simply because if you have exactly 20x40, by the time you have fencing around it, you'll always be riding at least 1m in from the sides (so you dont bash your legs), and that makes the dressage arena too small.

The above is the reason we started talking about it, when I was helping a friend with her 17.2 in a 20x40m arena and we notcied that the track is at least 1m in from the fence.
 
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