Top Tips for Setting Up Your PolyJumps Dressage Arena

Setting up a dressage arena correctly is the key ingredient to riding an accurate dressage test. If the letters aren’t in the correct position, it can affect each individual movement as well as the flow of the whole test. Thankfully, there is a not-so-secret formula to help you get it right every time! 

Understanding dressage arenas

Dressage arenas come in two sizes, 20m X 60m (long arena) or 20m X 40m (short arena). Most dressage tests are carried out in a 20m X 60m arena, however, there are a few exceptions. If your chosen discipline is eventing, then dressage tests are typically carried out in a 20m X 40m arena, unless competing at an international in which case a long arena is used.

Letters are set out at regular intervals to allow the rider to execute movements or transitions at the correct location, as well as give a clear indication of where you are in the arena- think of them like a map’s coordinates! If the markers are slightly off, then the flow of the whole test could be disrupted, and you might find certain movements very hard to ride accurately.  

We spoke to international dressage rider Lewis Carrier, to understand just how pivotal a correctly set up arena is… “When you run through movements, you want to give yourself the very best opportunity to do so in the same space that you will have at a competition. This allows you to visualise your test and give you and your horse the chance to see where improvements could be made and where those extra marks can be gained.” For those of you who compete in freestyle tests, Lewis highlights the importance of a correct arena, “when it comes to creating a floor plan, having the correct size arena is vital. No one wants to be chasing their music because the floor plan has been designed for a different sized arena!” 

The letters used in a dressage arena may seem like a random assortment, but there is some speculation about their origin, and it’s not as random as you might have thought. The most common theory dates back to 18th-century Germany (then Prussia). Nearly 300 of the King’s horses resided in the Royal Manstall (stables), and with such a vast number of horses, organisation was a necessity. For the system to operate efficiently, different markings were used around the stables to signify a designated place for grooms to hold each horse ready for their rider to mount.  

Setting up a dressage arena

If you’re setting up a dressage arena at home, you can create a super practice arena with just some letter markers. If you want to recreate a competition arena, or indeed host a competition yourself, then a dressage arena with boards will be necessary.

When it comes to setting up your arena, there is a pretty standard practice for getting it right first time. Whether it’s a short or a long arena you’re going for, there’s a formula to follow to ensure you aren’t traipsing up and down unnecessarily! 

Before you get started, make sure you have all the correct letter markers, and if you’re using boards ensure you’ve got all the right pieces, so as not to mess up your measuring system! 

The most important tool you will need is a measuring tape or a measuring wheel. If you’re using tape, make sure you have one long enough to measure the long side of a 20m X 60m arena! This is a vital component to measuring out your dressage arena, so get your hands on one before you get started. 

If you’re setting up your arena on grass, have a walk around first and check the ground is as level as possible and ensure there aren’t any holes or divots that could trip your horse up.   

Now you have all the necessary components, let’s get started… 

Begin with the corners and measure out your first short side at 20m. Drop something down to remember where each point of the corner will be or set up the first of your corner boards. The centre markers (either A or C) are situated at exactly halfway between the two corners at the 10m mark. Now you’ve got your first short side, start measuring out the first long side at either 40m or 60m from the corner point.  

Repeat this process and you should end up with the perfect rectangular dressage arena!  

Now for the trickier bit...the letters.

The letters must be in exactly the right position to have a fully functioning dressage arena. Here are some measurements to keep in mind when setting up your boards: 

• The short side corners to letters F, K, H, M = 6m  

• Distance between subsequent markers for a LONG arena = 12m  

• Distance between subsequent markers for a SHORT arena = 14m (this is because a short arena has fewer letters than a long arena!) 

As you set out your letter markers, make sure you’re checking the width of the arena at the same time. You want to make sure each marker is 20m in width away from the parallel letter, to ensure you have nice straight sides to ride around in.  

Setting up a dressage arena for competition

If you’re planning to host some competitions in your dressage arena, there are a few more things to consider.

With horse and rider combinations competing in your arena, you need to ensure the surface is as level as possible and free of anything that could disrupt, or cause upset to the horse’s rhythm.

The short side of the arena closest to the judges must be between 3 and 5 meters from the judges’ box and should not face the judge into the sun. The arena must also have enough space for horses to turn and straighten before proceeding down the centre line at A.

Now you’ve got all the tools you need to practice your dressage tests and score your best marks yet!

If you’re looking to get into dressage or want to start hosting your own dressage competitions, PolyJumps can help you get started! We stock everything from letter markers to fully boarded dressage arenas, as well as training aids to help you ride the best test you can! Browse our products or get in touch to find out more about who we are and what we offer.