Surely you have more than once shared the arena during training with other riders and their horses. Regardless of whether it is an indoor or an outdoor riding arena, certain rules apply there. All riders should follow them. It is known that in horse riding we will never manage to eliminate dangerous situations or falls a hundred percent. However, knowing the basics of arena etiquette will certainly help us reduce their number. In this post we will give you the most important and most universal rules. Thanks to them you will know what to pay attention to and how to behave in most everyday situations.
Why do we need arena riding rules?
Like the rules of the road, arena riding rules are aimed above all at ensuring safety for all users.
Thanks to following them it is possible to smoothly conduct even several completely different training sessions in one arena, without the need to interrupt them every moment. You yourself have surely been in a situation where you had to interrupt some exercise or change the horse’s gait in order to avoid a collision. Riding in a large arena with one or two people, we can always somehow come to an agreement and divide the training space. However, in the case where there are more horses, it is worth following the generally accepted rules. They are particularly useful, e.g., in the warm-up arena before a competition. There, in a small space, there are many horses at once, moving at various speeds.
5 Main rules of riding in the arena.
When sharing the arena with other riders, we should follow the rules below:
- We always pass left hand to left hand.
This is probably the most important rule, which must be absolutely observed. Although it would be best if all people using the arena rode in one direction, we know that this is not always possible. In such a case, riders riding in opposite directions, in a situation where they have to pass each other, should always pass on the left side. In practice this means that if we are riding to the left, the person coming from the right has to move to the inside and give way to us (and vice versa). This rule applies if both horses are moving in the same gait. - The higher gait has priority.
This rule does not need much explaining. The person moving in the higher gait has priority regardless of which direction they are riding in. The largest circle should be left for cantering riders, whereas people trotting and walking should ride on smaller circles, closer to the centre of the arena. - Mount and dismount the horse in a designated place.
In most arenas there are designated places for mounting, and there is usually a mounting block there too. It is similar with dismounting. To do this, move to the centre of the arena so as not to obstruct the traffic. If you have to stop the horse to, e.g., adjust the stirrups, or you need to make other corrections, you should also move to the centre. - Keep an appropriate distance.
Even from horses you know. You are never able to predict a horse’s reaction a hundred percent. Therefore you should always keep a distance of at least one horse’s length, both when riding behind a horse and when passing it sideways. One length is the absolute minimum, thanks to which both you and your horse are beyond the reach of other horses’ hooves. - Try not to overtake.
Unreasonable overtaking is one of the most dangerous behaviours in the arena. An overtaken horse may spook, set off at a canter after the horse overtaking it or try to kick at it. Instead of overtaking, try, e.g., to do a volte. If, however, you have to overtake, warn the overtaken rider of your intention sufficiently early, so that they can react. Always overtake from the inside and keeping an appropriate distance.
6 Additional rules increasing riding safety.
- Use the aids carefully when close to other horses.
This applies especially to clucking or using the whip. You never know how excitable another horse is and how it may react to your clucking or the tap of a whip. Refrain from this type of behaviour when close to other horses. - Close the door/entrance to the arena behind you.
This can prevent a horse escaping and an unfortunate accident in a situation where a rider falls off one of the horses. Many horses also get distracted seeing an open door or gate and may try to “drift” in that direction. - Do not enter the arena without warning.
This rule applies especially in indoor arenas, where through the door you cannot see the horses training inside. Before opening the door, shout loudly (“attention”, “door”, whatever phrase is adopted in the given place) and only after a reply that entry is clear, open the door. Otherwise you may spook a horse passing near the door. - Interrupt training if there is a loose horse running in the arena.
If a rider falls off one of the horses, interrupt training and stop until the horse is caught. A loose running horse will be easier to catch when it is not trying to chase the moving horses. If there are beginner riders in the arena, then in such a situation they should dismount and hold their horses in hand. - Always leave order behind you.
Leave the arena in the state in which you would like to find it yourself when starting your training. This does not apply only to cleaning up our horse’s droppings, which seems obvious. If you use poles, stands or other training equipment, after finishing training put them away in the designated place so that they do not interfere with other people’s training. - Kicking and biting horses should wear appropriate markings.
Although the rule of keeping distance applies, horses that are exceptionally aggressive towards other horses and react nervously should “warn” with a special marking. In the case of kicking horses this is a red ribbon in the tail, and in the case of biting horses a ribbon of the same colour braided into the mane.
In the arena, think for yourself and for others.
The described rules are the basis of riding in the arena. All riders should know them and follow them. We must not, however, forget about ordinary common sense. When you are not alone in the arena, you must also observe the other horses. It is possible that one of the riders will have problems controlling their horse. You will then have to give them priority. Although according to the rules they should give way to you. Remember also that beginners may use the arena. They may be so focused on their own riding that they do not even notice you.
If you are not sure whether the other person knows the arena riding rules and understands your intentions, do not hesitate to also use your voice, e.g. “move to the small circle”, “wall clear”, etc. That is, among other things, why riding with headphones in is not advisable.
If you are approaching an obstacle (especially in the warm-up arena), shout before the approach which obstacle you are riding to (“oxer”, “upright”). Other riders will be able to make room for you. Also avoiding a situation where two people approach one obstacle at the same moment.
Even while following the rules yourself, you must also take into account that someone may not know them. That is why it is always worth having eyes around your head, in order to be able to react to various situations in time.
