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View Full Version : Sacrificing mediocre arena for a better roundpen?


KarinUS
19th Oct 2006, 01:31 AM
I haven't been riding as much as I would like to. Partially that's due to the baby. But I am also not too thrilled with the footing in my arena. It would cost quite a bit to 'repair' the base and replace footing in the 70' by 140' arena. The arena is not enclosed but has lighting.
Eventually I would like to get back out on the trails (we live in an equestrian community and are able to get on the trails right from our front yard). When Duncan is older I would love to get back into dressage as well.
Right now though he seems to need his mommy an awful lot.
So for the next few years my plans would be this:
-keep Bixby and DJ in shape and take them on the trails
-get minose started (next year ground driving and lunging, then riding when she turns 4)
I was wondering if it would make sense to simply take the center part of the arena and turn it into a big round pen - like 65'. We could make use of the arena lights. The center of the arena also requires the least repair to the footing. Rather than having a mediocre arena we could get a very good round pen.
A few years down the road when I have more time for riding and competing again we can disassemble the round pen and use the materials to enclose the arena.

Do you think riding in a big roundpen would be satisfactory? What would you do? We don't have space for both and most definitly not the money for both either. So it's either or. Patch up the arena or get something better but smaller...

Ideas, please!

galadriel
19th Oct 2006, 01:48 AM
If you get moveable panels, then you can easily take the round pen apart and use them for arena corners later.

If the round pen is large enough I don't mind riding in it, although it's even more dull/repetitive than an arena. It's also harder on the joints, so you can't ride as long--not sure this is a major problem for you right now.

KarinUS
19th Oct 2006, 02:27 AM
It's also harder on the joints, so you can't ride as long--not sure this is a major problem for you right now.

See that's what I was thinking too. If I rode in it it would be at those times when time was limited anyway. And for starting Minose it might be nice to have something enclosed.