Horse Riding Arenas

Horseback riding arena terms & exercises

Riding Arena Terms

Riding instructors use certain words to indicate the location in a riding arena, give the rider direction, and offer training exercises.

Learn some basic riding arena terms and practice learning the letter locations within an arena.

Centerline & Quarterline

Riding arena terms used to describe locations in an arena. The centerline is the line down the middle of the long side of an arena. The quarterline separates the arena into quarters and is halfway between the centerline and the long side.

Riding Arena Terms

Inside: The side of the horse facing the inside of the arena.

Outside: The side of the horse closest to the outer part of the arena, also called the rail.

Change Rein: Change the direction of travel.

On the Rail: Along the outer rail or fence line of the arena.

Riding Circles

You may be asked to ride circles of a certain size. Common sizes include 10, 15, and 20 meters. A standard size dressage arena is 20 meters wide (65.5 feet).

Riding Arena Letters

Riding arena letters serve as a guide for riders and trainers.

Hunter, Jumper, Western, Dressage, and even pleasure riders often have these letters posted in standardized locations around arenas and even in grassy riding fields. Dressage tests are performed according to set tests that use these letters at marked locations for the rider to perform certain movements with the horse.

Dressage Arena Sizes

Dressage Arenas Can Be Small or Large.

These sizes are standardized and measure 20 x 40 meters for the small arena, and 20 x 60 meters for the large arena. Notice in the illustrations below the arena letters in the small arena are also in the same locations in the large arena. The large arena offers room for more letters and are often used in upper level dressage tests.

Small Riding Arena

Large Riding Arena

Small Dressage Arena Letters Game

Drag and drop the letters into the correct location and check your answers.

Riding Arena Exercises

A riding instructor, clinician, or judge at a horse show may ask for certain movements to be performed by the rider.

Long Diagonal

The long diagonal usually extends the entire length of the arena and offers a change of direction. Riding a long diagonal line can be used to show extended gaits or straightness.

Full Arena Serpentine

A full arena serpentine allows the rider to practice changing the bend of the horse with straightness in between the change of bend.

Spiral In & Out

A spiral in and out can begin as the full width of the arena or smaller and slowly move to a smaller circle and back out again with the horse moving off the outside and inside aides.

Short Diagonal

Similar to a long diagonal, but does not extend the entire length of the arena. Offers a change of direction.

Serpentine to Centerline

A serpentine to centerline, or half of the width of a riding arena, allows the rider to practice changing the bend of the horse.

Reverse Within a Circle

A change of direction through an S curve within a circle.

Half 10 Meter Circle

A half of a ten meter circle, or tear drop shape, can be used as a suppling and balance exercise for the horse and offers a change of direction.

Figure Eight

A figure 8 can be ridden the full width of an arena or smaller. It offers a change of direction.

Riding Arena Terms Matching Game

Click the cards to turn them.
Match the name of the riding arena exercise with the correct image.

Leaderboard

Rank	Quiz Name	User	Correct Score
1	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Uberpony	83
2	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	hate	50
3	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	toes	66
4	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Brian	83
5	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	olivia	66
6	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Rose	100
7	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	olivia	100
8	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Autumn	100
9	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Autumn	83
10	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Emma Tytherleigh	83
11	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Hannah	50
12	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Lizzy	66
13	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	mags wags	83
14	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	mags wags	83
15	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Brian	83
16	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Lisa	83
17	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Emma	50
18	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	SJ	100
19	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	stevie	66
20	Riding Arena Terms Quiz	Lilly	100