Arena Etiquette To (Literally) Live By

PSA: Left shoulder to left shoulder is not a relic of the past. It seems like there have been so many caveats added to this simple rule that chaos and confusion reign over crowded arenas these days.

It has been a very long winter for riding in my barn’s indoor, and I’ve never second-guessed my knowledge of riding rules and etiquette as much as I have this year in a packed ring full of dressage riders. Don’t even get me started on 20-meter circles being done ON THE RAIL, or half pass and flying changes across the arena while 5 other riders are just trying to survive.

I grew up in a hunter/jumper barn (hello eq class of 18 riders) and have been off property to a decent amount of shows, many of them jumpers (white flag on the left, red on the right, don’t screw up or you might die). I’ve also been run into once before as a kid, where the pony who hit us bounced off like a pinball and fell over. Everyone was ok, but it shook us all up. Because of these experiences, I have a fair understand of calling where I’m going and making room to do my work while keeping the safety and respect of other riders in mind. I’m not perfect, but I try
to be as mindful as I can be especially with a horse that can sometimes feel like steering a tractor trailer. But just as with driving a truck, I strongly believe in the importance of following rules like left shoulder to left shoulder in order to avoid accidents. Confusion happens when people try to be overly generous or give way when they don’t need to.

Unfortunately, there are a few conflicting rules floating around like give way to lessons and/or faster riders and/or people doing upper level movements, that create even more issues. There are also vastly different levels of comfort in both steering and communicating at most barns including my own.

Last week, I came within three strides of a head-on collision because I was trying to follow left shoulder to left shoulder while someone else was, I’m assuming, taking the rail because her lesson took precedent. We were both in different lessons at the time, and she was on a 20- meter circle. I’ve always been told to never cut through someone’s circle, and circles should be done off the rail. This is still a thing, right?

The week before that, I was in one of two dressage lessons going on at the same time in the indoor. We each worked on a 20-meter circle at opposite ends of the ring. When the other rider was done, she came to my side which had the exit, and stopped on the quarter line – on the trajectory of my circle – to have a chat with people that came into the arena. I asked her to move off of my circle and she got offended and snapped at me. On the one hand, you’re not supposed to stop on the rail to adjust or chat. On the other hand, I had been riding the same pattern for 45 minutes and she stopped directly on it. Who is in the wrong?

Earlier this winter I was in a clinic with a visiting trainer. I spent 30 minutes getting cut off by a rider who had trailered in to use the indoor before I asked in frustration to be given the right of way. She retorted that I was supposed ride left shoulder to left shoulder, and I shot back that I was in a clinic and was meant to have the right of way. We were both upset, and both technically correct. Bigger horse wins (just kidding). In the end, I was the loser because I let my irritation cloud my learning experience.

If you’re supposed to give lessons the right of way but there are always lessons happening, how are you supposed to ride your horse? Recently, I heard someone complain to a friend that riding was supposed to be fun, but she felt like she couldn’t do anything. Everyone has become so on-edge about giving space that people are afraid to move. So, what are some basic guidelines we can agree on?

Left shoulder to left shoulder and announce your plan

Don’t cue or whip your horse so loudly that other horses react

Keep 2 horse lengths between you and the horse in front

Pass with at least one horse distance between you and the other rider

Adjust tack and chat in the middle of the arena

Circle off the track / don’t cut through anyone’s circle

Safety is more important than schooling movements. If you’re committed to a line, you should call the pattern

A few of the more controversial rules I’ve heard include slower riders staying to the inside, upper level riders being given right of way, or even greener horses being given right of way. Some riders can be more intimidating than others, but they shouldn’t be the ones to set the rules. What are some arena guidelines you wish everyone would follow?