[JBandRio]

I wouldn't do anything less than 100x200. Bigger IS better, up to a point.

You could get away with 100x150 but I wouldn't. Even if you *now* don't need something as large as 100x200 (which really isn't terribly large once you get a horse or three riding in there), it is highly unlikely you'd say, in 5 years, that's too big

As for the fencing - all depends. I have electric tape as my pasture fencing, and since my ring is one corner of the pasture, the entire ring is the same Horseguard tape - works great.

As for the footing - much depends on what's available in your area and what your soil is like. I have an awesome red clay sub-base - packs like concrete. On top of that I have vibrating-rolled washed sandrock as my base, and the actual footing I ride on is sandrock/screenings.

[Chelle2005]

Thanks guys, right now at my parents house they have the brown clay that they disk up for me... As for what I will be riding on at that time when I purchase a house I am not sure yet... I have thought about purchasing gates a few at a time and making it that way, but its a little ways off to make up my mind completely at this time

[showjumper]

we have wooden post and rail fencing with a gel trak surface (or silica sand and rubber)

[AMD]

We have RAMM fencing - love it - wouldn't want anything else.

Our outdoor is 100 x 160. I think it is perfect. We have upwards to 7 people in a lesson out there and it is just big enough to not feel too crowded, but just small enough to really get some good training on the youngins and actually have to ride by the horses. I would like it a bit larger for jump courses - but instead of doing 4 lines we just set up there and take two twice a lot of times.

We use ours as a turnout for the stud - works great - its not too big that they can really get moving, but its big enough for them to stretch their legs and have some fun.

[pittmd]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

I wouldn't do anything less than 100x200. Bigger IS better, up to a point.

You could get away with 100x150 but I wouldn't. Even if you *now* don't need something as large as 100x200 (which really isn't terribly large once you get a horse or three riding in there), it is highly unlikely you'd say, in 5 years, that's too big

As for the fencing - all depends. I have electric tape as my pasture fencing, and since my ring is one corner of the pasture, the entire ring is the same Horseguard tape - works great.

As for the footing - much depends on what's available in your area and what your soil is like. I have an awesome red clay sub-base - packs like concrete. On top of that I have vibrating-rolled washed sandrock as my base, and the actual footing I ride on is sandrock/screenings.

Do you just use metal post for the electrical tape or did you put in wood post? My biggest problem would be to find a level spot to build the arena. Have lots of room but nothing level except the front yard...hmmm, wonder what the wife would think about that

Does anyone have an arena that is not level?

[CowBarbie]

Mine is 100 x 150 clay base ,sand on top .... we have 4h practice here and it works great size wise ...

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by Matt Pittelkow

Do you just use metal post for the electrical tape or did you put in wood post?

Wood posts, pounded in. I will never ever EVER have metal posts around horses. My boy was boarded at a little barn that had about 5 t-posts to create a small area, and he slipped while running, slid right into it, and severed his extensor tendon. He was well aware of the hotwire on it, he never voluntarily went near it, but when you get horses running in mud, well...

My biggest problem would be to find a level spot to build the arena. Have lots of room but nothing level except the front yard...hmmm, wonder what the wife would think about that

Does anyone have an arena that is not level?

You do NOT want an unlevel arena. It cannot be perfectly flat, or it won't drain. But you're talking about a 1-2* slope, that's all. You will not be able to get away with no grading - even the most level spot will have to have the topsoil removed and a 1-2* grade put on it for drainage.

You need to think about location too - proximity to the road, the barn, existing drive area, etc - in determining where to put the ring. Vehicles to do the grading, and vehicles carrying in the footing are H-E-A-V-Y, and if you don't have, or create, a gravel (or something similar) path for them to traipse over, they will create their own, and not necessarily where you want it. So if you don't provide them one that will be permanent, you will have to re-work the ground they tore up and compacted to make it suitable again for what you had used it for (or will be using it for). Does that make sense?

I ended up with mine in a location that is very convenient for riding and mainteinance - about 50' from the barn. I filled in the area between with sandrock. I can drag the ring without ever traipsing across any pasture that might be wet. I can turn the trailer around in the ring if necessary - again, without ever going onto wet grass. I will be able to set up temporary fencing between 1 or all of the stalls facing the ring to create a dry lot or anything like that for a broodmare or injured horse. Lots of possibilities

[countrysoul784]

I have 60 x 120 and that is fine for just me and one other horse. I wouldn't go smaller than that. The average indoor arena around here is 60 to 70 wide and 120 to 140 long.

[AQHA Hunter]

I think what I would go for would be at least the small dressage arena size (20x40 meters), though 80' wide and 160' long would be really nice. Would definitely not go any narrower than 60' and would sacrifice length to at least get an adequate with. As far as fencing, I think the way I would set up *my* arena, would be on peeler core or pressure-treated 4x4's and then 2 or 3 wood rails. I'd then have about 8 panels on the interior so I could set up a round pen at one end if needed, using the arena fence for 3 sides of the roundpen.

[Chelle2005]

Thanks guys this is all helping out quite a bit... One other question I have is if you use the arena for turnout how high would you have the fencing??