[StarfireArizona]

We are looking at some land to move the horses home. I have to plan the arrangement very carefully for the lot is only 1-3/4" acre, and I need barn/outside runs, 60' round pen & an riding arena....not to mention a house to live in for us humans

What is the standard size of an arena ? I am guessing appx 120 x 200, but are there any smaller sizes that have worked well for you ?

Thanks in advance for any ideas....

[Suzannah]

I would be interested in what advice you get. Check out the book Horsekeeping on Small Acreage. It has several plans in it.

[JumpingRedDun]

It depends on what you will use the arena for. I have a 70x170 arena, but I only do flatwork in it. If you are planning to put jumps in it, I would want at least a 100x200 if you can get away with it. You could jump in a smaller one, but you'd be doing some pretty tight hunter corners.

[StarfireArizona]

I want it strictly for flatwork....so a 70x170 would probably work well for me. I have big TB's, so I wasn't sure if I needed the extra distance for gait changes.

Does anyone else have any other dimensions that work well for them ?

[JBandRio]

Mine is 100x200, but that's for jumping as well. If I was in a space crunch, I could go 80x150.

Do you NEED a round pen? Consider using part of your ring as a "round pen" by using jump standards to section off part of it and make the corners of the ring curved. That will save some space.

Another space saver is to back the closed end of the run-in into the fenceline instead of having it a total standalone inside it somewhere.

Definitely get Horsekeeping on Small Acreage - you need to think about where to put your manure, where to store your farm equipment, etc.

[StarfireArizona]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Mine is 100x200, but that's for jumping as well. If I was in a space crunch, I could go 80x150.

Do you NEED a round pen? Consider using part of your ring as a "round pen" by using jump standards to section off part of it and make the corners of the ring curved. That will save some space.

Another space saver is to back the closed end of the run-in into the fenceline instead of having it a total standalone inside it somewhere.

Definitely get Horsekeeping on Small Acreage - you need to think about where to put your manure, where to store your farm equipment, etc.

Wonderful ideas JB....as usual

The lot is good sized & oblong......239' w x 273' d. The only problem is a manufactured home on the lot, and that will only be there for a couple years for my daughter to live in until the housing market (ever) straightens out & we can sell this house & build there. I am trying to set up the accommodations permanently so there will be room for everything. I will look into that finding that book for more ideas.

Even using JumpingRedDun's dimensions for an arena freed up quite a bit of space. I have a 60' round pen at my parents home where the horses are now....so I have to take it. With the smaller arena sizes, I can fit the round pen to one side.....and still have a few feet between. As you mentioned, I had already planned on having the run in barn area backed up to the fence & still have room for about 75' runs.

In your opinion, are 16'x75' runs large enough for big TB's ? I have to hot wire them because my big gelding loves slamming against the fence.