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Smallest Arena You Can Comfortably Jump In?

33K views 13 replies 6 participants last post by  upnover 
#1 ·
If I were to build an arena, what size do I need to comfortably jump? I want it as small as I can to save on space and money, but I don't want it so small that I feel too cramped to do anything in it.

Let me know your opinions!
 
#2 ·
Indoor or outdoor? (Not that it totally matters.)


I have boarded at two different facilities where the indoor at one was 60'x90' and the other was 60'x100'.

Both are a little cozy for jumping but both worked.
 
#7 ·
How big are you jumping? Our smallest ring is 90 x 160 and we can easily set up 18 in courses in there with a 4 stride line down the outside. Gymnastics too. Anything over 2"3 possibly 2"6 gets more complicated, although I have done 3"6 singles. The narrowness more then anything is what makes it difficult so if I had to rebuild the ring I'd make it wider.

Just remember, a horse's "average" canter stride is 12 feet long. When you're setting up a line you allow 6 feet for take off in front of the jump and 6 feet after for landing. You want to make sure there is enough room for at least a few strides before and after the line begins.
 
#8 ·
How big are you jumping? Our smallest ring is 90 x 160 and we can easily set up 18 in courses in there with a 4 stride line down the outside. Gymnastics too. Anything over 2"3 possibly 2"6 gets more complicated, although I have done 3"6 singles. The narrowness more then anything is what makes it difficult so if I had to rebuild the ring I'd make it wider.
I'd want to plan on 3 feet, but room for growth wouldn't be bad. Probably nothing over 4ft though.

Just remember, a horse's "average" canter stride is 12 feet long. When you're setting up a line you allow 6 feet for take off in front of the jump and 6 feet after for landing. You want to make sure there is enough room for at least a few strides before and after the line begins.
That's a good way to look at it! Takes some of the guess work out of it.
 
#9 ·
I agree with what upnover said.

The OP asked for smallest, so I was giving what I thought was the absolute smallest.

If you want input on what is the best size for practicing courses, etc that is different than the smallest option.
 
#10 ·
I have a very small woodchip which i can jump a single fence in it is slightly bigger then a 20metre circle(sorry dont know the exact sizing) it was originally built for me free jumping my youngsters.
However i have a big 20 jump course set out in the field which is to big as i forget sizing.
I would go with a size you feel happy enough with say like warmup arena size BUT build it so when you get more finances it can be enlarged further. This is what a friend of mine is doing granted hers is outdoor
 
#11 ·
I guess I've been giving out mixed messages. Let me ask it this way:

What is the smallest size arena I can jump a 3ft course in? I'm not looking for anything elaborate. It's for my own training purposes. I do want to be able to practice what will come up in shows though, maybe just in a smaller scale. Does that make sense?

Maggie- Thanks for the advice on building it so it's not hard to expand later when finances aren't so tight.
 
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