Gauteng Smallholder November 2015 | Page 35

HORSEMANSHIP From page 32 Scrap car tyres, buried end-toend to half their diameter also provide a good wall. Cinder blocks, Stumbelblocs about two courses high and double brick walls can also be used. You can also make a low (30cm high) post-and-rail fence although this won't keep the sand in the arena. Sharp inflexible material such as old corrugated iron or fibreglass sheeting should never be used because of the danger of injury to the horse or rider in a fall. Part of the idea behind a wallless manege is that the rider must learn to control and steer the steed in addition to performing actions such as rising in the trot, standing in the stirrups etc, for any lack of control soon sees the pony leaving the arena with a quick hop over the wall and a glint in its eye. If your budget allows, or if the rider is more advanced or adult, build a longer 20m x 60m dressage arena. In fact, if you're in it for the long haul, choose a piece of ground with at least a further 30m so that when the need arises you can simply extend your 40m manege to a 60m one and still have sufficient space surrounding