A heads up on arena etiquette
Picture it: you are tacking up for your lesson, and you look out at the arena, and it’s crazy busy! Three different trainers have three different lessons, and that’s not even counting the riders who are riding on their own. Daunting, right? Well, have no fear, we are here to talk about arena etiquette!
When an arena is busy, communication is key. This goes for when you are in a warm-up arena at a show, when you are out on trail, and when you are riding in an arena at home. Calling where you are going, paying attention to what is happening around you, and being flexible are your best friends in a busy situation. Here are some things to remember:
You should never be on your phone while your horse is moving! If the phone call or text you are receiving cannot wait, always find a safe spot to park your horse to respond. Sometimes this won’t be an option, but leaving the arena always is! One of the biggest pet peeves of many riders are riders who ride and text. It is just as dangerous as texting and driving.
Call where you are going! If you are planning to jump and there are multiple other riders in the arena, make it a point to call what jump you are heading towards. Generally, if you are cantering or trotting around and find yourself face to face with another horse and rider, you will try to pass each other left to left (your left shoulders should pass each other), but sometimes that’s not an option or you may have to hug the rail; in this situation, call ‘outside’ or ‘inside’. If you are all going in the same direction, always pass to the inside.
Pay attention! Your eyes should always be scanning ahead of you, and you should always be listening to what is going on behind you. This is why you should not be wearing headphones while riding in a busy arena.
Be flexible and understanding! Sometimes situations are unavoidable, and it’s important to give grace. You may find yourself getting cut off by a beginner rider or a runaway horse, and sometimes other riders may just be having a bad day and maybe a bit distracted. It happens! There’s no point in getting angry over little things. With that being said, if you see someone doing something dangerous, like texting or talking on the phone or consistently cutting people off and not paying attention, nicely say something! You can also always mention it to your trainer and let them handle it!
A busy arena can be scary, but it should never be unsafe. You have to do your part to keep things safe and manageable.
