Indoor arenas, part three

All this talk about indoor arenas has me thinking about... indoor arenas.

Specifically, it has me thinking about all the indoor arenas I've ridden in, which isn't that many.

Jennifer on Olive, 2023

I grew up in Southern California. Indoor arenas are few and far between and most of them aren't truly indoor. Instead, they're covered.

But either way, the places I rode weren't that fancy. I had to wait until I was twenty two for my first inside ride. That happened during a spring break trip to South Dakota. I don't have a picture of the arena, but this is me on the horse with with my friend, Jean Sorensen, who set the whole thing up.

The first indoor arena I actually have pictures of me riding in belonged to my friend, Fran.

Jennifer on Punky, 2010

I was riding at her place in Parker when I started this blog.

Ryan and James on Punky and Tyson, 2010

I've been at my current barn since 2013. In the years since then, I have shared many pictures of its interior...

Jennifer on Rev, 2013

and exterior.

Also, all its pigeons and cats!

Moving on!

In 2016, I attended the first Oregon BreyerWest, after which I was invited to meet - and ride - Tracy Calamar's Lusitano gelding, Falcon.

That was a really good day.

I had similarly really good day in 2017.

This one was in Amarillo, Texas on Andrea Caudill's Peep eating superstar, Matt. We did Spanish Walk!

In 2018, I drove out to Watkins a few times to ride my friend, Kelly's horse, Gunner.

He was the good boy he always is, and this arena was fabulous.

2019 was a two indoor Tornado year.

The first Tornado was a nine year old Charro stallion that Fabian was briefly interested in buying.

I went with him for the trial ride, and let me tell you, that was the tiniest indoor arena I have ever seen. It might have been a converted garage. It was that small.

And yet, we both still cantered!

I can not imagine a more opposite experience than the one I got with Tornado number two.

This was the big Polish Warmblood I rode in a dressage lesson while I was visiting my friend, Carol, in Germany.

Thank you again, Kim Brandner for making that happen. It was truly a true bucket list experience.

On the same trip, but in 2020, I rode in an indoor arena in the Netherlands with a group of Dutch hobbyists.

Although not the most memorable part of the day...

that was a really nice arena. 

I'm so glad I got to ride in it.

Also in 2020, I test-rode a Fjord for Kylee.

Although she turned out not to be the right fit for the Parks family, I enjoyed meeting her and riding in this very nice arena.

So far, this post has been all about regular indoor arenas, the kind of spaces where people ride and train their horses on a daily basis. However, I can not resist sharing this picture of Fabian and I riding - sidesaddle and in costume! - in the Covered Arena at BreyerFest 2022. Yet another bucket list moment!

And with that, we've now officially reached the point where research has turned into procrastination. It's time to start building my arena!