Looking to enter my new mare into some shows this spring, TR3 looks like it can be in a large or small arena, anymore compete last year and any insights in what you are seeing for ring sizes, TY.
I expect this will be largely location dependent. In Florida, I never saw anything other than Intro in a small ring, if that even was.
Schooling show or recognized? If rec, pretty much bound to be a full court.
I agree it will depend on location and show type. I run the dressage classes at the Region 3 show. 90% of the entries are Intro, or Eventing tests written for a small arena, so I usually run the (straight dressage) Training tests in a small arena.
when I was showing you almost never saw small court. Recognized or local schooling, the labor needed to change to a large court was impractical in the days of depending on volunteer help
Most show secretaries are happy to answer questions about their show. Send yours a note and ask what their plans are if it is not specified in the show announcement
But waiting for a stiff old schoolie to cross the diagonal at a walk in an intro test in the large arena can be excruciating.
I saw large in VA at both rated and schooling shows this year that I attended (mostly VHC).
Local to me, schooling shows usually run T-2 and below in a small ring, T-3 and up large. Recognized shows typically are all large. I’m in New England.
If we’re talking recognized shows, expect a large arena.
T3 has been in a large arena, even at schooling shows around here. That single loop rides weird/fast in a small court IMO.
At schooling shows I have mostly seen levels up to T2 in small arena. Then arena changed to large for T3 and up.
Our local school shows have Training Level (all tests) in the large court. Only Intro level tests were held in a small court. Those serpentines in a small court are a challenge.
The first time I tried to ride it in a short court I was laughing my ass off - it happens so fast and I felt like I needed a pirouette at the rail to get to X at an appropriate angle to head back to the rail.
My experience for the last 15 years has been all recognized, but I VERY rarely see a small court. Unless there is a full day of rides to schedule in a small court, it takes manpower and time that lots of shows don’t have available.
Mind you, there are plenty of times after the millionth pony training 2 ride that I’d give my left leg as a scribe for a short court. Some of those rides takes FOREVER. Even as a scribe I have a hard time paying attention through some of those rides.
Wait 'til you get to watch a barely medium pony do 1-3… guaranteed the rest of the day will be behind schedule!!
Court size will be stated in the prize list.
I showed Intro last summer in a large arena. It took FOREVER.
Yep!!
I am a show sec for a small GMO in MD, I schedule everything except the Eventing tests in a large.
I don’t remember if it was T2 or T3, but when I did a short court test on my 17H WB, the end of the arena came up so fast I thought we might accidentally jump out. I decided to go home and not show until we were ready for 1st and guaranteed a long court.