How small of an arena can you still jump in (new ? would you sacrifice size for location, post 22)

[PNWjumper]

I want my arena visible to someone. I don’t care if it’s a public road or my house, but the idea of falling off of a horse and having no one who would be able to see me is a bit scary. So personally, I would prefer to have the arena close to the house even if it means that you’ll be introducing dust fairly close. This seems like a morbid thought, but the idea that I could perhaps crawl toward my house if I needed to is something I would be thinking about since I’m often riding alone on the property. And it was definitely on my mind when I had a horse fall on me while jumping a couple of years ago resulting in a bunch of broken ribs. Boy was I glad that my arena was close to my barn which is close to my house. But having the arena that close does have the con that it will get dusty. Fortunately, that’s only an issue a couple of months a year around here.

I do think that sacrificing a little length for width is not a bad plan. I would greatly prefer a 76’ width to a 66’ width. I think you get more bang for your buck with the greater width, while length is a relatively moot point if you’re not going to be jumping really big fences.

[Mac123]

I built a 100x180 arena a couple years ago. I LOVE having the width. And I wish I could set a longer line down the long sides. But for me I’d choose width over length…jumping a 6 stride line is awesome, but you can make do with a four stride line and to me you get a better real horse show canter with more width. Even if you can set a nice long line, if you have a short short side it’s hard to generate the pace through the corner. And really difficult for the green beans.

I’ve boarded at several barns where there was a significant walk to at least one of the arenas so I got used to it and that doesn’t me. It’s a nice warm-up. The only time it was annoying was at one barn where it was a walk to the indoor, so the walk in the cold/wet/snow was icky…but you just get used to in (and invest in a rain sheet!). My arena is about 75 yards from our barn so still close, but not right there.

I will agree with @PNWjumper about having the arena visible to someone. Mine borders a road, and since I often ride alone and with no one home, it’s comforting to know that someone at least could notice if I’m down and out. However, you can mitigate that risk by checking in with a buddy - “I’ll text you in 30 minutes when I’m done.”

I think when push comes to shove, unless you can afford and have the space to put in your ideal arena, it’s somewhat of a personal decision in picking preferences.

[TheJenners]

OK so on the computer I spaced out a 80x150 and this is what it is. Not as close to the house even with increasing width. [ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“medium”,“data-attachmentid”:10421998}[/ATTACH]

[Jax]

@PNWjumper

I want my arena visible to someone. I don’t care if it’s a public road or my house, but the idea of falling off of a horse and having no one who would be able to see me is a bit scary.

I could not agree with this more. For many years we had a ring at the back of the property and while it was quiet and secluded it was also terrifying to ride in. If anything happened (and occasionally it did) someone would have to look for me by coming up the driveway, through the barn, through two large paddocks, and then hopefully spot me and/or my horse. Whereas if someone can see you from the road or at least a driveway? Worth sacrificing for.

Yes, it will definitely make your house a bit dusty, but you’ll just have to get used to closing windows in the summer before you head out to ride. And it sounds like the space concerns aren’t really a sacrifice for you, realistically speaking.

[ace]

@TheJenners

OK so on the computer I spaced out a 80x150 and this is what it is. Not as close to the house even with increasing width. [ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“medium”,“data-attachmentid”:10421998}[/ATTACH]

These dimensions don’t seem too bad. I read your comments on the first page and was coming here to say OMG do not go narrower than 70 feet! But it seems you’ve decided that already so that’s great!

[Trekkie]

These are the dimensions of my ring and it’s plenty for good pole work and short lines. Really makes you organized in the corners so good for homework.

[TheJenners]

Hahah yeah for sure. I went back and looked at the last five arenas I’ve been in extensively since 2000, either as a boarder or an owner lucky enough to buy an already finished place… Two 80x150s, one 80x165, one 100x150, and one (most recent) 70x200. I think a 70-80x150 will be ok. Plus one of my surveillance cameras will cover this spot, so I can give the login to my Dad or a friend to watch and make sure I don’t die :lol: The spot down lower is not visible to the road, and only three houses will see it including mine. I can keep the lower five acres in hay for a few more years, no big deal.

[ToTheNines]

I’ve been through something similar. My bottom line is that if I had to choose between size and safety, I would choose safety. I ride alone and live alone at present time. And although I have wonderful older safe horses, they are horses after all.

Maybe some of my experiences can help you weigh things out.

My first arena was close to the road for the same reasons others have mentioned – so someone could see. However, when the nice older lady next door died and her redneck kids moved in, things changed. They fight (think domestic violence), they shoot big guns (I mean the kind that make pressure waves, seriously), they have loose dogs and cats, and they are awful. Also, that arena was 700 - 800 feet from my barn. Some of my horses have dealt with herd anxiety better than others. Some got a bit spooky up there.

I built a new arena closer to the barn and away from the awful neighbors. It’s really nice, 110 x 215, and I love it. The other one was even bigger, so size was not a deciding factor for me. But being close to the barn and away from bad neighbors has made me feel a lot safer and the horses seem more at ease. I text my sister when I get on, give her a check in time, and text her when I get off. This arena is about 300 feet from the barn. It’s not really the closeness to the barn that my horses like when I am riding them, but the fact that they can see a buddy or two turned out nearby.

My horses are so quiet that my big issue in preparing for shows is making sure they have a nice big canter. So if you are showing hunters, that’s a consideration with a smaller ring. I practice a lot with a 5 stride “pole line” about 66’ apart, and I would not want an arena too small to do that.

[TheJenners]

I’m just starting back in lessons regularly :lol: Hunters used to be my thing, and I have a talented and gorgeous horse that should go to a show home, and I may still find a lease/lease-to-buy one day. I think I’d be happier finding something that trail rides instead (two somethings actually, so I can get my Dad back out). I think I burned out of showing in college when it was two or three weekends a month for most of the year… Or I may do some super low level flipping. Since I always seem to have greenies, smaller makes me feel a little better.

But single-income budget also dictates one or the other, it would be amazeballs to have a smaller/safer “green bean” arena and then a larger jumper arena down below :yes: Maybe one day! Where did I put that lotto ticket…?

[TheJenners]

Well I re-measured the “front yard” (between house and road but not the front of the house, actually) and guess what? A 70-80x150 fits perfectly and knocks off about 35 min of mowing to boot. I had no future plans for that area, whereas I did have some for the spot between the house and the paddocks (fire pit, gazebo, more landscaping), and also… only two small windows on that side of the house, one is a guest room and one is the transom window in the master, so virtually invisible from the house. The relief and happiness that it still fit there tells me it’s the best spot! Close to the road but we don’t have thru traffic, perfect!

Thanks for all the help!