Layout Your Arena
1. Find the center point –
Assuming you want
your arena centered atop the footing you
will need to find the center point of your
surface. Measure the long side from edge
to edge. Mark the center point. Measure
the short side from edge to edge and
mark the center point. Bring the center
points together to find the center of your
arena
(see diagram 1).
2. Locate short side line –
From the center
point measure 20 meters toward the short
side; This is where your short side will line
up
(see diagram 1).
3. Locate long side line –
From the center
point measure 10 meters toward the long
side; This is where your long side will line
up
(see diagram 1).
4. Locate first corner –
The point where the two side
lines intersect is the corner of your arena. Insert a
stake at this point, make sure the stake is solidly in
the ground with about 18” exposed. Place a corner
post over this stake. 1” - 2” of the stake should
extend above the post to allow the guide string
room to tie.
(see diagram 2)
5. Locate Second Corner, Layout First Long Side –
From the first corner stake, measure down the long
side to 40 meters. Keep in mind the center point of
the arena to make the line square with the foot-
ing. Insert a stake at this point and place a cor-
ner post over the stake. Tie a string between the
two stakes. This is your first long side.
6. Layout First Short Side –
From the second cor-
ner, measure across the short side 20 meters.
Use the 3-4-5 formula (see diagram 3) to get the
corner square. Place a stake at this point and
place a corner post onto the stake. Now tie a
string between the two stakes. This is your first
short side.
7. Layout Second Short Side –
From the first corner, measure across the short side 20
meters. Use the 3-4-5 formula (diagram 3) to get the corner square. Place a stake at
this point and place a corner post onto the stake. Now tie a string between the two
stakes. This is your second short side.
8. Layout Second Long Side –
Tie a string between the two stakes to layout your sec-
ond long side. You may need to adjust one of the short side stakes to get the arena
square.
N ow is the time to overview where your dressage arena is located.
If you don’t like the positioning make the necessary adjustments.
AREN A ASSEMBLY
1. Build Out the First Long Side –
Place the rail into
the corner post butting up to the stake. Place a
line post on the end of the rail. Place a stake into
the line post just for spacing purposes. (Do not
hammer stake into ground until entire arena is set
in place.) Make sure all rails are tight against the
internal stake for an accurate sized arena. Repeat
these steps until you are at the Second Corner.
NOTE: You may need to adjust the position of the
second corner after building out the first long side. This is normal and is due to the
variations of measuring out the arena. W hen the arena is set-up correctly the meas-
urement from inside rail to inside rail will be 40 meters on the long side and 20
meters on the short side.
2. Build Out First Short Side –
Continue assembly of the post and rail using the method
described above. The guide string between the corner stakes is used to keep the line
straight as you build to the next corner.
3. Build Out Second Long Side –
As above.
4. Build Out Second Short Side and Gate Area –
As above. Use the end posts for
entrance gate.
5. Hammer In Stakes –
Hammer in all stakes till they are flush with the top of the posts.
C AUTIO N: Hitting the PVC post with your hammer may damage the post.
6. Place Caps on Posts –
Secure caps
on post tops. Use decorative caps
on end posts at entrance gate.
LAYO UT YO UR AREN A
6’
8’
START MEASURE FROM POST
10’
Diagram 3
CORNER POST - TOP VIEW
STRING
CORNER STAKE
Diagram 2
Diagram 1
3’
4’
5’
10 meters
20
me
te
rs
1
ST
SHORT SIDE
1
ST
LO
NG
SI
DE
1
ST
CORNER
Diagram 1
1st SHORT SIDE
CORNER POST - TOP VIEW
1
ST
corner
START MEASURE FROM POST
CORNER STAKE
STRING
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
1. Find the center point –
Assuming you want
your arena centered atop the footing you
will need to find the center point of your
surface. Measure the long side from edge
to edge. Mark the center point. Measure
the short side from edge to edge and
mark the center point. Bring the center
points together to find the center of your
arena
(see diagram 1).
2. Locate short side line –
From the center
point measure 20 meters toward the short
side; This is where your short side will line
up
(see diagram 1).
3. Locate long side line –
From the center
point measure 10 meters toward the long
side; This is where your long side will line
up
(see diagram 1).
4. Locate first corner –
The point where the two side
lines intersect is the corner of your arena. Insert a
stake at this point, make sure the stake is solidly in
the ground with about 18” exposed. Place a corner
post over this stake. 1” - 2” of the stake should
extend above the post to allow the guide string
room to tie. (see diagram 2)
5. Locate Second Corner, Layout First Long Side –
From the first corner stake, measure down the long
side to 40 meters. Keep in mind the center point of
the arena to make the line square with the foot-
ing. Insert a stake at this point and place a cor-
ner post over the stake. Tie a string between the
two stakes. This is your first long side.
6. Layout First Short Side –
From the second cor-
ner, measure across the short side 20 meters.
Use the 3-4-5 formula (see diagram 3) to get the
corner square. Place a stake at this point and
place a corner post onto the stake. Now tie a
string between the two stakes. This is your first
short side.
7. Layout Second Short Side –
From the first corner, measure across the short side 20
meters. Use the 3-4-5 formula (diagram 3) to get the corner square. Place a stake at
this point and place a corner post onto the stake. Now tie a string between the two
stakes. This is your second short side.
8. Layout Second Long Side –
Tie a string between the two stakes to layout your sec-
ond long side. You may need to adjust one of the short side stakes to get the arena
square.
N ow is the time to overview where your dressage arena is located.
If you don’t like the positioning make the necessary adjustments.
AREN A ASSEMBLY
1. Build Out the First Long Side –
Place the rail into
the corner post butting up to the stake. Place a
line post on the end of the rail. Place a stake into
the line post just for spacing purposes. (Do not
hammer stake into ground until entire arena is set
in place.) Make sure all rails are tight against the
internal stake for an accurate sized arena. Repeat
these steps until you are at the Second Corner.
NOTE: You may need to adjust the position of the
second corner after building out the first long side. This is normal and is due to the
variations of measuring out the arena. W hen the arena is set-up correctly the meas-
urement from inside rail to inside rail will be 40 meters on the long side and 20
meters on the short side.
2. Build Out First Short Side –
Continue assembly of the post and rail using the method
described above. The guide string between the corner stakes is used to keep the line
straight as you build to the next corner.
3. Build Out Second Long Side –
As above.
4. Build Out Second Short Side and Gate Area –
As above. Use the end posts for
entrance gate.
5. Hammer In Stakes –
Hammer in all stakes till they are flush with the top of the posts.
C AUTIO N: Hitting the PVC post with your hammer may damage the post.
6. Place Caps on Posts –
Secure caps
on post tops. Use decorative caps
on end posts at entrance gate.
LAYO UT YO UR AREN A
6’
8’
START MEASURE FROM POST
10’
Diagram 3
CORNER POST - TOP VIEW
STRING
CORNER STAKE
Diagram 2
Diagram 1
3’
4’
5’
10 meters
20
m
et
er
s
1
ST
SHORT SIDE
1
ST
LON
G
SI
DE
1
ST
CORNER
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
6’
10’
8’
Starting
Point
1. Find the center point
– Assuming you want your
arena centered atop the footing you will need to find
the center point of our surface. Measure the long side
from edge to edge. Mark the center point. Measure the
short side from edge to edge. Mark the center point.
Bring the center points together to find the center of
your arena (
see diagram 1
).
2. Locate arena short side
– From the center point
measure 20 meters toward the short side; This is
where your short side will line up (
see diagram 1
).
3. Locate arena long side
– From the center point
measure 10 meters toward the long side; This is where
your long side will line up (
see diagram 1
).
4. Locate first corner
– At the point where the two side
lines intersect is the corner of your arena. Set cones
and rails to create your first corner.
5. Square first corner
– Set up a 90º corner (
see diagram
2
). The starting point will be where the two rails meet in the
corner cone. From the starting point, use the top, inside
edge of one rail to measure out 6 feet and mark the point.
Again, using the top, inside edge of the other rail,
from the starting point measure out to 8 feet and
mark the point. (Remember, the rail is 4 meters long).
To achieve a correct 90º angle, the distance between
the two marked points must be 10 feet. Adjust the angle
of the long-side rail in or out until the distance between
the marked points is 10 feet to square the corner (
see
diagram 2
).
6. Build first short side
– From the squared corner
cone, lay a tape or stake a long string in a straight
line to help you. Keep in mind the center point of
the arena to make the line square with the base.
Assemble cones and rails along this short side.
Make sure the rails butt up against each other. Rails
