Dressage 'Court' vs 'Manege' vs 'Arena'

[Plumcreek]

As a H-J person, I seldom frequent this forum, but I would appreciate you all in the know explaining to me what the correct term is for a Dressage layout. “Court”, “Manege” or simply “Arena”. Who would use, or when would you use these various terms?

Thanks in advance…

OK, corrected the spelling.

[shadowdancer]

That’s an easy one.

All those terms refer to the same thing: An arena is “menage” in French, “court” in British English, also “Viereck” in German. Usually refers to a 20 x 60m space, but casually includes any arena.

[arena_run]

The cowgirl in me says that the menage is probably an indoor, manicured area with specialized footing - probably w/mirrors along one wall.

The arena is an oudoor, tree-shaded, pipe corral of sorts where you can practice your barrel racing between the monthly shows.

Let us not foget a ‘pen’ which is basically the same thing as an arena except 20’ shorter on the long side and you let the calves run in it when you’re weaning.

And a ‘court’? It’s just one of those terms you chalk up to “learn something new every day”. sylvia

[BEARCAT]

It’s MANEGE, not menage…
Refers to an indoor arena. Carriere is the outdoor arena.

"ma·nège
Variant(s): also ma·nege \ma-ˈnezh, mə-, -ˈnāzh\
Function: noun
Etymology: French manège, from Italian maneggio training of a horse — more at manage
Date: 1644
1 : a school for teaching horsemanship and for training horses
2 : the art of horsemanship or of training horses
3 : the movements or paces of a trained horse "

[Coreene]

It is manège not menage.

[Plumcreek]

LOL. As an all-arounder, I ride in a ‘pen’ at the QH shows and an ‘arena’ at the USEF shows.

What I am asking is - if you are standing on the ground in the good ole United States, looking at the dressage ‘whatever’, will you call it the ‘dressage arena’, the ‘dressage court’ or would one be trying to be elitist to call it the ‘dressage manege’ ??

++ OK, so I can’t look at a word and then type it correctly - why I am coming here for advice!

[Plumcreek]

[QUOTE=BEARCAT;3007537]
It’s MANEGE, not menage…
Refers to an indoor arena. Carriere is the outdoor arena.

"ma·nège
Variant(s): also ma·nege \ma-ˈnezh, mə-, -ˈnāzh\
Function: noun
Etymology: French manège, from Italian maneggio training of a horse — more at manage
Date: 1644
1 : a school for teaching horsemanship and for training horses
2 : the art of horsemanship or of training horses
3 : the movements or paces of a trained horse "[/QUOTE]

Thanks. Somewhere in the dark back corner of my mind, I remember this definition as an indoor.

[merrygoround]

Most area of the country, refer to them as arenas. I always think of a menage as a enclosed area, good for working distractible students ,or horses. I play tennis on a court, or go to it if I get caught driving like I usually do.

[Plumcreek]

[QUOTE=Coreene;3007543]
It is manège not menage.[/QUOTE]

Correne and BEARCAT, how do you type that little accent mark over the ‘e’ ??

[ideayoda]

hold down the option key, release, hit e (or some type faces include them). é or å or î ø

[Coreene]

@merrygoround;3007592

I always think of a menage as a enclosed area

I always think of it a trois. The manège is an enclosed arena.

Zillions of UK real estate ads for horse property have it spelled wrong as well.

[Plumcreek]

[QUOTE=ideayoda;3007872]
hold down the option key, release, hit e (or some type faces include them). é or å or î ø[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I don’t have those keys - new keyboard time.

So, if I had my druthers, I would call it a ’ Dressage Court’ - which in my mind differentiates it from a full height fenced arena. (I may be in a situation where I need to be correct in my terms.)

[BEARCAT]

Also, if you are performing a pas de deux in a manège, does it become a menage??

[Dressage_Art]

I never heard of “arena” being used for dressage before I came to US. It is more of a circus term.

Manege - is an indoor court, it is fully covered and you can ride in it in winter; it also might have some seating area for audience or even a small cafeteria on the rail. Court is an outside court. Both of those words are international, old definitions related to horses.

[Equibrit]

A court is where you play tennis. (real or lawn)

[Dune]

Don’t forget “Ring”.

[Trotsky]

A dressage court is sometimes (often) set up in an arena. So, it all depends.

[Janet]

I just call it a “Dressage Ring”.

I have never called it an "arena or “court”, though I might say “the Grand Prix arena can be set up with 3 standard dressage rings”
“Manege” refers to the larger structure within which the dressage ring is set up, but it is rather an affectiation to use the French term.

[Rusty_Stirrup]

Also “sand box” or “play pen”.

[Trixie_s_mom]

my british instructor calls the ring/arena/court/manege a ‘school’.