When you are building a metal horse arena, one of the many decisions you will need to make is what size building kit to order.
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How big does a horse arena need to be? This guide will help you figure out the right dimensions to order based on your specific needs.
Common Sizes for Different Types of Horse Arenas
To get started, let’s take a look at some typical dimensions for various types of horse arenas:
- Dressage arena: 20 x 60
- Small arena: 20 x 40
- Jumping arena: 50 x
- Riding arena: 30 x 60
You can, of course, stray from these dimensions a bit. It would be fine to go larger on any of them. But we would not recommend going smaller. You need at least this much space to be able to get the use out of the arena that you require.
How to Choose the Right Dimensions for Your Equestrian Arena
Below are some steps for evaluating your horse arena size needs.
1. Figure out what type of horse arena you need.
As we just went over, there are different size recommendations for different types of horse arenas.
Dressage arena dimensions need to be sufficient to ensure that you have enough room for practicing on your horse. Anywhere from 800 to 1,200 square meters is recommended.
Both riding arenas and jumping arenas need to be more spacious than the dressage arena size.
Regardless of the type of arena you are building, a metal structure is a great choice because it allows for clear span design. Looking for the clear span to be at least 20 meters.
2. Ask yourself how many people will use the arena at a time.
If just one person will be using the arena at any given time, the dimensions we gave above are sufficient. But if more than one person will be using the arena at a time, then you will need more space.
3. Do not forget about vertical space for an indoor horse arena.
We have discussed the length and width requirements for various types of horse arenas. But if you are building an indoor horse arena with a roof, height is another important consideration. You especially need to be cognizant of it if you are building a jumping arena.
When horses jump, they usually just clear several feet. But horses can actually jump as high as eight feet. That’s the world record, so you probably don’t need to worry about that. But assume your horse might jump as high as five to six feet. Add that together with the height of the horse, and add some additional feet for safe and comfortable overhead clearance.
While you do not have to worry about this at all with outdoor arenas, having a ceiling for your arena certainly carries some advantages, especially in regions that get a lot of rain. But indoor versus outdoor arenas is a whole other topic, so let’s press on.
4. Consider whether you want to incorporate space for additional uses.
The main purpose of your horse arena is for riding and exercising your horse. But you may want to think about adding some space for other purposes. For example, you could put in extra space for storage. You also could add in space for an office, or just an area where you can rest and relax.
5. Think about your budget.
Your horse arena size will mostly be determined by the considerations we have gone over. But your budget will play a role too.
If you have a high budget, you may have no problem building a horse arena toward the upper end of the size range that is suitable for your intended purpose. But if you have a tighter budget, that could constrain you toward building an arena at the lower end of the size range.
Although larger horse arenas cost more overall to build than smaller ones, you will at least be glad to know that the cost per square foot decreases for larger structures. So, they can be very cost-effective, even if they are pricier than their smaller counterparts.
Order Your Horse Arena Building Kit
Now that you know about horse arena sizes, you are ready to take the next step in building your horse arena. Click on any of the links below to visit our recommended horse arena building companies to request a customized quote.