Arena dimensions - need opinions please?

If you're going to use it for starting young horses, do you have a round pen? If you don't have a round pen, I'd use about 11 of those panels to make a decent sized round pen then you'd still have enough panels left over for a small size arena of about 72' x 108' plus the one panel that is bent which you could either use as part of the round pen or part of the arena.

If you don't want a round pen or already have one, then I'd probably do a rectangular arena as tends to be the standard at any show...which might come in handy if you are planning on doing any competing or showing.

I prefer oblong arena's, because I compete in more then just barrel racing (other speed events).

I would do 9 and 12 - the arena's at the barn I ride at have square corners, but my aunt's arena has rounded corners. I like them both, but am used to the square corners and have grown to like them for some of the exercises I do with my barrel horse.

Have fun with your arena! I wish I had one that big!

defiantly an informative website that you need to check out-

http://www.iedsopra.com/pdf/yankeepedlar.pdf

the ring i ride in every day is 130x270 feet. (but i ride hunter/jumpers)

i prefer square rings. no real reason why except then you get to pick how you make your turns though the corners. (easier when your jumping, sometimes you have to ride deep into the turns while other times you don't) i also like oblong arenas for this matter too(also you can school dressage in them), but square are nice sometimes and i think they would be better fitted for western riding? (correct me if i'm wrong here, i ride western in the same ring i jump in so i don't really know)

hope this helps & good luck!

You will have 504 feet with a 12 foot gate section.....

I would do 100 x 150... you can angle the corner ones to make it not so rectangle-square onb the corners.. and put the gate in the center of one of the 100 foot ends.

This would be plenty wide and long for barrels.

If you plan on showing, I'd make it oblong, because regulation arenas are. I don't have a problem with square arenas, but I like oblong better.

I vote for oblong with angled corners..................I think the angled corners are better for working with young horses, and you can do more in an oblong arena. Just my preference.