What is a good size for a small riding arena?

[B. Saffles Farms]

Well I quess Im not schooled enough to know what Im talking about. In my 25 years of riding I quess I shouldve had someone teach me the "right" and "proper" way to ride. And I shouldve read more and studied more about riding.

 

[CountryMom]

My smallest working pen is 100 X 100 square. If grass does attempt to grow I disc it. I like working in soft dirt or sand and personally hate working a horse on grass. That is for the pasture and where I ride there it is fine. I also have my electric cow set up in that small pen. If the dirt gets slightly wet it isn't nearly as slick as a grass working pen. My small pen is also where I have taught many people to ride. It is a better place to fall than hard ground with grass growing on it. And overall the horses have less to trip up on or slip on. My small pen is also where I set up my 40 foot round pen from time to time to time if need be. That is for in hand working and the first few rides. I prefer a corner in my pens and not rounded ends.

Just my opinion. I am in no way an expert in Dressage or care to be. No offense it just isn't me and I have ridden it. I have ridden gaited horses - retrained one and still ride her to this day for some folks. I personally love the working cow horse.

 

[BeardedChick]

My smallest working pen is 100 X 100 square

One of the reining barns here has a 100' round pen. That thing is a blast to ride in - good footing and lots of room to canter around & it's sooo easy for the horse at that diameter.

 

[BeardedChick]

In my 25 years of riding I quess I shouldve had someone teach me the "right" and "proper" way to ride. And I shouldve read more and studied more about riding.

The great thing is you are never too old for lessons or for reading about riding philosophy.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:
The great thing is you are never too old for lessons or for reading about riding philosophy.

Lessons? Nah I agree with CountryMom, "dressage" horses arent for me. Ill stick with my Racking, and Walking horses. I know what Im doing on them.

 

[BeardedChick]

Quote:
The great thing is you are never too old for lessons or for reading about riding philosophy.

Lessons? Nah I agree with CountryMom, "dressage" horses arent for me. Ill stick with my Racking, and Walking horses. I know what Im doing on them.

The first person I took lessons with and one of the most elegant riders I know is a Paso Fino trainer who trains and competes at the Nationals Level. I rode my Foxtrotter and DH rode his Icelandic in lessons with her for a year or so until she moved to a show barn back east. The riding was very much in the dressage style & seat, but tuned to riding gaited horses. She has trained under classical dressage riders & was amazing to take lessons with.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Sounds pretty cool.

 

[Laci7210]

Is 88 feet by 80 feet too small? I am going to be warming up in the arena and then ride in the pasture. Is this big enough to walk, trot, lope? Thanks!

 

[Kitkatbab03]

We are planning on making an arena as well for our young daughter. Are you making it yourselves and if so what materials will you be using in your riding arena? We live in Florida and I know different regions require different materials based on the climate just curious
Thanks and good luck

 

[res]

This is a super old thread, so I am not sure any of the original posters will respond.

I will say that your arena can be simple and inexpensive, or you can spend (*waste*) tens of thousands of $ on footing and fencing and laser leveling and ...

You need to consider how much space you can devote to an arena, wether it can be *just* an arena, or if it can be multipurpose for grazing and riding. How often you will be riding, your budget, and your style of riding all come into play.

I competed every weekend, and took weekly lessons at my house, with a VERY particular classical dressage instructor. My arena? It was poly posts, screw on insulators, and surveyor's tape. In the middle of my pasture. I didn't need solid barriers, I just needed, and my horse needed, a visual indicator of the edges of the "space" we were riding in. I did not need footing. I had 10 acres of prime pasture, and only 3 horses, so I had plenty of space for a "real" arena, I just could not justify one.

As far as dimensions, you do not have to ride dressage to appreciate the value of a "dressage dimensioned" arena. Dressage dimensions are set in a particular way, to allow the horse to be balanced around the narrow ends. Google the dimensions, you can make it huge or tiny...

Round pens are also great, but smaller round pens SHOULD NOT be used for speed work. There is too much centrifugal force on the horse's joints, and it is VERY hard for a beginner rider to learn to have a balanced seat and balanced horse, when working in a small round pen. I do LOVE round pens, but they have their limitations.