Barn Etiquette: WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

By Ariel Haver

We’ve all experienced the horrors that accompany boarding.  Poor etiquette is beyond frustrating and can really cause a negative vibe when heading out to the barn. We asked riders what was the most inconsiderate thing they’ve experienced. Here are some of them:

“I had someone use my tack without ever asking me (and hardly ever speaking to me) and then she left it dirty and in a pile on my trunk. I’ve also had someone move my stuff to put their stuff there instead.”

“Leaving horse crap in the aisle/crossties” 

“Taking things off your stall without asking!”

“Not cleaning up after yourself is huge and so impolite, but so many people do it. I’ve also had people move my things without asking/telling me and not put them back. Once, my tack trunk was taken out of one barn and put in a shed without my knowledge.”

“Paying a coach or someone to ride my horse for me while I was away and heard that they weren’t even riding the horse, but never told me.”

“I had a lesson once with a girl on her pony who didn’t know how to ride expecting my coach to help her… She was running around bumping into me and the parents never realized that this wasn’t ok.”

“Indoor arena etiquette. Clean up your horse’s crap, put away jumps, and if you use my friggin lunge line & whip (which everyone at my barn keeps in a corner of the arena) then put them back. Mine always go missing and it drives me insane.”

“Someone wore my custom-made riding boots without my knowledge…I flipped out”

“I seriously hate when people steal the cross ties when I clearly have my stuff there and about to bring my horse out. I barely have time as it is to move to another free set or move.”

“Someone called my horse a pansy. He’s retired…he can be whatever he wants. I should laugh, but I was really mad.”

“Not giving you the right of way when you’re in a lesson. Regardless of the left to left rule if I’m doing shoulder in on the long side I get the track. End of story.”

“I really don’t know how many halters I’ve “lost”. I don’t know who keeps taking my halters but magically, they all disappear.”

Here are our barn etiquette do’s and don’ts. We hope that these suggestions will help you steer clear from any unwanted encounters with your fellow stable peers.

DO: Clean Up After Yourself

We mean more than just cleaning up your horse’s manure from the aisle. Clean up after yourself everywhere the tack room, bathroom, laundry room, wash stall. Be mindful of the messes you make and clean up after yourself.

DON’T: Leave a Mess Behind

The barn staff are not hired to clean up after you. Don’t leave your tack out. Don’t leave your laundry in the machine for days. Don’t leave your blankets lying about. Don’t leave your lunging equipment in the arena. Don’t make a mess anywhere and just leave it. 

DO: Value Other People’s Equipment 

Tack, grooming supplies, etc. aren’t cheap. People invest in their things for themselves, not the entire barn. Treat other people’s belongings as you would like yours to be treated. 

DON’T: Borrow Without Asking

Borrowing without asking is inconsiderate and is a conflict waiting to happen. no one wins from unwanted drama. Ask or don’t use, as simple as that.  Most importantly, if you borrow something PUT. IT. BACK in the same condition as you took it. And remember to say thank you.

DO: Practice Proper Arena Etiquette

Be considerate of others. Ride left to left in the arena, be conscious of people riding in lessons, put equipment back after using it. Rearranged jumps? Put them back. Goes for lunge lines, whips, wheel barrows etc.

DON’T: Create DRAMA

Don’t gossip, don’t spread rumours, don’t talk negatively about other people. It makes you look bad and hurts other people’s feelings. It is caddy and unwanted by everyone around you.

DO: Treat Others with Respect

It does not matter what their horse looks like, or what level they ride at. Everyone is doing their best and are there for the same reason. You all share the same love for the sport and the animal. As simple as a smile and saying “have a good ride!” can really boost the morale in the barn.

Respect is a life lesson and common courtesy is applicable to every facet of your life.