Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
FENCING
If your arena fence is at least 6 feet tall, it will discourage horses from putting their heads
over the rail as they are turning near the fence. The fencing should be very strong if you
plan to ride young horses. Often dressage rings have no official exterior fencing but just
an 18-inch-high visual barrier. The perimeters of dressage rings are commonly marked by
cones, plastic chains, or ropes or with PVC pipe and cinder blocks.
The shape of the arena will depend on your training goals. Rectangles allow you to ride
your horse deep into the corners and teach him to bend or turn. Oval arenas or rectangles
with rounded edges are more appropriate for driving and jumping and are easier to disc and
harrow. Gates should be flush on the inside of the arena, and the latch should be operable
from horseback.
My 100′x200′ arena with decomposed granite footing is ideal for working Zipper on
his exercises year-round. A full-sized dressage arena (66′x198′) can be marked off in-
side when desired.
