Posted 2014-11-12 9:56 PM Subject: Small indoor arena to work in?
A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094 Location: Southern Oregon
80 x 120....... give me the good, bad and the ugly about working a "full" pattern in this small of an arena. I have yet to set the full pattern up in it. I usually just work one or two barrels. I would really like to start working the "full" pattern on my filly. I really dont want her to learn bad habits from working a super small pattern. Any suggestions would be great
Posted 2014-11-12 10:10 PM Subject: RE: Small indoor arena to work in?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 972 Location: Texas!
cowgirl_3207 - 2014-11-12 8:56 PM 80 x 120....... give me the good, bad and the ugly about working a "full" pattern in this small of an arena. I have yet to set the full pattern up in it. I usually just work one or two barrels. I would really like to start working the "full" pattern on my filly. I really dont want her to learn bad habits from working a super small pattern. Any suggestions would be great
It works just fine, you are on the second real quick but it works.
Posted 2014-11-12 10:25 PM Subject: RE: Small indoor arena to work in?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
Our arena is 50 x 180 what I have learned is your horse will only pick up habits that you allow. I disregard how close the barrels are to each other or the wall and make sure my horse is listening to me. The close quarters do not allow for any mistakes so correctness is key :)
Posted 2014-11-12 11:00 PM Subject: RE: Small indoor arena to work in?
The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW
I ride in a small indoor during the winter. Some things I do:
1. To practice a "normal" distance between 1st and 2nd I will set two barrels down the long side. It makes for a shorter approach to the first, but it helps to free up a horse that knows the pattern but needs worked on bigger dimensions.
2. To practice a real approach to the first with some actual speed, I set up two barrels on the far short side.
It definitely isn't ideal, but once your horse knows the pattern, these two tricks just become drills to keep him freed up and "pretending" you are on a big pattern in a big pen.
Small indoor arena to work in?
