It’s a diva’s refrain whenever the possibility arises, “My horse is a big mover. He can’t possibly perform in the small arena! “

[Editors note: insert eye rolling emoticon here.]

Were the essence of dressage training based upon conservation of momentum, this might be true. But the truth is, even a big horse that is in front of the leg and in balance can fit any required movement into a 20 x 40 space. This does not mean he should school only in a small ring. Horses should spend a reasonable amount of time in the standard arena as well as on big grassy areas. You should avoid trappy, potentially dangerous, uneven footing, but sloping ground—undulations and hills—are worth riding on.

Getting back to the 20 x 40 kerfuffle, in the old days one argument for the shorter ring was that some venues out west did not have enough flat ground to put in multiple standard rings. For eventers a different practicality dictates ring size. A smaller ring means shorter tests which translate into more rides per hour—an organizer’s dream.

Regardless, while some small horses gain an advantage in the short ring, it is often because a larger horse which covers the ground faster gives a novice rider less “free time” to prepare for whatever is coming up next. Look at how closely spaced transitions are in a test like the GP Special—extended trot to passage to extended trot are demanded for short distances in rapid succession. They could equally well be fitted into the small arena!

In fact, some of the German S Level tests are written specifically for the 20 x 40 ring. And I have seen some tests from other European countries which, though performed in the large arena, use just the two-thirds nearest the judge except for a few movements like the extensions. Why ask the judge to try to score movements done at the far reaches of the arena if they can be done closer where they’re easier to see?

One last thought for you whiners: if you are crabbing about the arena size for your large, green horse, why not complain about its width? That’s more likely where he’s having trouble no matter what length the arena is. In fact, I should think riders on greenies should prefer the shorter ring. Once you come off that circle and head down the long (or longer) side—that’s where the horse gets strung out and loses his balance.