Arena Etiquette

Arena Etiquette

  • Proper spacing is 2 horse lengths or more distance from you and the horse in front of you.
  • Western PleasureIf you must stop for tack adjustment or for the rider’s needs, come to the center of the ring to do so.
  • Do not mount or otherwise congregate in the entrance to the riding area.
  • Passing other riders: When riding in an arena with more than one horse is present it is customary for the slower horse to take the inside track. The rider behind you may call out “rail” which should indicate to you to move over to the inside, if you haven’t already noticed them. If you are going in the opposite direction to the other horse riders should pass each other left hand to left hand.
    • Comment/explanation: As you ride around the arena, if you need to pass someone who is going slower than you in the same direction, Alert them (“Passing on your left/right”) then pass on the inside. Do not crowd the other rider. If you see that you will pass a rider going in the opposite direction, pass left shoulder to left shoulder-just like driving in the US. Again, do not crowd the other rider.
  • Be Aware and Think Ahead
    • Comment/explanation: Just like when you drive a car, you need to be aware of what is going on around you. Also, like a car, you and your fellow riders have trajectories that have to be accounted for. To stay safe, therefore, you need to be aware of where you and others are *now* AND where you and others are likely to be in the immediate future.
  • The term “outside” is defined as the side of your body that is closest to the rail/arena fence, and the term “inside” is the side of your body that is closest to the center of the arena.
    • Comment/explanation: The concepts of “outside” and “inside” must be clear to all riders for the rest of arena etiquette to make any sense.
  • If you are circling the arena, stay towards the outside.
    • Comment/explanation: This allows traffic to flow freely. If you want to ride circles, or other patterns/school figures, move to the inside *IF* you can do so safely, without interfering with games and games equipment.
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