| The School (or arena) is the perfect place to safely | | | | performed, will all require a large sized arena to enable |
| exercise and train your horse. There are many factors | | | | enough space for maneuvers to be performed. A |
| involved with the construction, layout and position of | | | | small dressage arena is often 60x40 meters. |
| the school that can alter determine how useful the | | | | What is the drainage like? |
| school can become. Whether deciding to build an | | | | -Dust can be a nuisance when riding in an arena and |
| equestrian riding school / arena or whether choosing if | | | | can lead to lung damage to you and your horse. It |
| the arena on your yard is suitable for what you want | | | | should be watered if dust is likely to be a problem. |
| to do in it, there are factors that should be considered. | | | | Sufficient drainage systems should be in place, |
| Is the schools surface suitable for the riding or | | | | especially in outdoor arenas, to prevent rain from |
| exercise you have planned? | | | | affecting the quality and time spent riding on the |
| -Different disciplines or exercises will require different | | | | surface. |
| surface depths. | | | | The walls or fencing on the school is an important |
| -Too deep can strain the tendons of the horses legs | | | | feature to consider. Is it safe? Are there any parts of |
| or too shallow will not provide the horse with enough | | | | it that could catch the rider or horse as they travel |
| cushioning but should be firm enough to provide | | | | past? Any such problem should be rectified first |
| suitable traction. | | | | before the school is ridden in. |
| -The surface type can affect the amount of dust, | | | | It is a common feature of many horse riding schools to |
| cushioning, durability and time you will need to spend | | | | have markers on the walls or boundaries. They help |
| maintaining your arena. | | | | instructors when teaching and riders when training for |
| Is there enough light to ride in? | | | | competition. The most common are the dressage |
| -Flood lights can be added to outdoor arenas quite | | | | markers, A, C, F, H, K, M, E, B, and show jump numbers |
| easily, extending the amount of time the arena can be | | | | 1-12. R, S, V and P are also used in larger arenas for |
| used for. | | | | dressage. Other items that are common place in riding |
| Is the size of the school big enough for the work you | | | | schools are jump wings, pole cups and Mounties |
| want to do with the horse? | | | | (mounting blocks). Other disciplines like carriage driving |
| -Speeds, jumping, driving and dressage, when | | | | will require more specific items like driving cones. |