Arena etiquette: Do’s and don’ts of sharing an arena with others

In this post, I will list some basic rules regarding sharing an arena with others. In this post on Trail Etiquette, I list some ideas on how to share the trail with other riders (and non-riders).

Lately I’ve been seeing posts about disagreements on how to share arenas and the trail. There is a long tradition of arena etiquette, and although I’ve been out of the arena-sharing world for a while, I can probably remember most of it. (If I get it wrong, don’t hesitate to tell me so in a comment!)

Table of Contents

Etiquette vs. Rules
Entering the arena
Riding in the arena: Do’s
Riding in the arena: Don’ts
Longing and long-lining
Dogs, cats, and toddlers
An alternative way to share the arena

Etiquette vs. Rules

Etiquette can be thought of as a code of accepted behavior or politeness. I’ve heard it described as “rules of polite conduct,” but these rules aren’t written down anywhere–except maybe in Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior. But these are rules for the dinner table (for instance), not the arena, as far as I know. (Blog post with a short Miss Manners for the ring.)

Here, when I say rules, I mean the rules imposed by a riding stable. Some stables have rules that enforce traditional arena etiquette. Some will have more rules on top of general etiquette, and some will have different rules.

This is about arena etiquette that should apply anywhere. However, when you ride in a new arena, always check to see if they have specific rules you should follow. When there is conflicting information, local rules take precedence over general arena etiquette.

Entering the arena

1. Look both ways. Enter quietly (don’t gallop in).
   • If the gate is such that people inside the arena cannot see you as you approach, and there is a chance of your entry causing a horse to spook, announce your entry (say something).
   • Some places have rules that mandate ALWAYS saying something before entering.
   • I only do it if I think I might make some else’s day less pleasant by giving them (or their horse) a scare. In other words, if I can see that the only other rider is at the far end of the arena, I’m not going to say anything.
2. If the gate is closed, close it behind you.
3. If possible, enter mounted. Go to the center of the ring to mount if you cannot enter on your horse.
   • These days, everybody has a mounting block. It’s a good idea to be able to mount without one, but if you can’t or don’t want to, chances are that there will be one in the arena.
   • In any case, try to mount out of people’s way.
4. Unless it’s a busy warm-up arena at a show, greet people. If it’s your barn, you’ll be around them a lot. Being nice goes a long way.
5. If you are not a rider or trainer, stay out of the arena, especially if it’s busy.

Riding in the arena: Do’s

1. Above all, communicate.
   • Ask people if they mind whenever you are contemplating an unusual maneuver or activity (long-lining is one I mention below).
   • Announce your intentions whenever you deviate from using the rail in a standard way (e.g., circling, half-passes, calling your line when jumping and diagonal when doing dressage).
   • Call out your path if there is any doubt that other riders don’t understand the regular etiquette (“inside!” or “outside!”)
   • Ask people what they are planning if it’s unclear.
   • Ask if there is a lesson going on (lessons usually have priority in most barns).
   • Ask about the arena-specific rules if they are unclear to you.
2. When you encounter someone going the opposite direction, pass to the right. That is, your left side passes closest to the other rider’s left side.
3. When going the same direction, pass on the inside. This assumes you are both at the same gait.
   • Preferably, cross to the other side of the arena or circle.
4. Leave as much space as possible between you and other riders.
   • Leave at least one horse length between horses.
   • It cuts down distractions for everyone.
   • In the show ring, it’s good showmanship. It allows the judge(s) to see you.
     • You want the judge to see you (most of the time). But don’t be getting in between the judge and your competition all the time. It will be noticed.
   • At home and in warm-up arenas, it’s just polite. It makes it easier for riders and horses to focus.
5. When horses are at different gaits, the riders going faster have right-of-way.
   • When walking, walk off the rail to the inside, so that people working at a trot or canter can use the rail.
   • If you are trotting and hear someone approach from behind at a canter, it is polite to circle so that they can pass you on the rail.
6. If you need to stop for any reason (for example, to adjust your tack, or to give your horse a “thinking” break), go to the center of the arena where you will be out of the way of other riders.
7. If you want to circle (e.g., 20m circles or loping circles), tell other riders and make sure it’s okay. Then work to the inside and stay off the rail.
   • Other riders should stay on the rail and not get “inside” your circle.
8. Be patient and polite with other people’s riding ability and arena knowledge.
   • If someone doesn’t know arena etiquette, find a kind way to explain it to them.
   • When someone is having trouble with their horse, try to help, even if it’s interrupting your training routine.
     • We’ve all been there.
     • Besides, someone else’s loose horse can very quickly become your problem in more ways than one.
   • If someone’s horse runs away with them, stop or walk until they get it under control.
9. When (not if!) your horse acts up, be aware of other horses as well as your own. If your horse’s behavior is making other horses or riders nervous, leave the arena to school somewhere else. If necessary, come back at a time when the arena is empty.
10. Clean up your horse’s poop. In the warm-up arena at a show, you don’t have to worry about it (the arena will be dragged regularly), but it’s important to keep arenas at private stables clean.

With jumps set up, the rules are slightly different:

• When there are jumps in the arena, horses jumping have right-of-way.
  1. Jumpers should call their line (announce which jumps they are going to take).
  2. Non-jumpers should keep out of the way.
• With jumps set up, rather than walking to the inside as you would without them, walk along the rail. Horses not jumping going at faster gaits pass on the inside.
• If you knock down jumps/poles, put them back up when you’re done (assuming they were set up when you went in)

A note on dressage

Dressage riders will often use the center of the arena to change rein, perform half-passes, serpentines, pirouettes, and so forth. If someone is using the center for such maneuvers, work around them on the rail, and be aware.

Similarly, if you are the one doing dressage movements, let people know. Always call your diagonal and warn others what to expect.

What about ponies?

Ponies cede to horses in general. If a pony is moving along the rail, and a horse comes up behind it, the rider should circle to allow the horse to keep the rail. At least, that’s the way I was taught. I cannot provide a logical reason, other than general politeness (children should defer to adults).

What about driving horses?

• If there are carts (buggies, carriages) in the arena, they follow the same rules riders do, but! remember they are not as maneuverable. Their stopping distance is greater and their turns wider (think of them like rigs when mounted horses are sedans).
  • Don’t get too close behind a cart. Especially if it’s trailing the reins 😉

Riding in the arena: Don’ts

1. Don’t stop on the rail or anywhere else where you might be in someone’s way.
   • It’s okay to perform a halt as long as it’s not right in front of someone, but don’t sit there forever. Remember, horses going faster have right-of-way.
2. Don’t gallop up behind someone. Or trot up behind them for that matter.
   • Just because someone else doesn’t move off the rail for you to pass is not an excuse for you to be rude.
3. Don’t pass too close to another horse.
   • Respect other riders’ (and horses’) space.
   • If your whip touches another rider or their horse, you are either way too close, have inadequate control of your whip, or–most likely–both.
4. Don’t pass too close to pedestrians.
   • Swooping by someone else’s trainer may also be swooping by the judge at the next show you enter.
5. Don’t go for a trail ride in the arena unless it’s empty. If you want to walk leisurely around chatting to a friend, go outside if the arena is busy.
   • This is especially true if there are two of you walking side-by-side.
   • It also applies to cell phone use. Don’t text or call and ride in the middle of a busy arena unless you are stopped in the center, out of the way.
6. Don’t be rude to other people.
   • If it’s your barn, you’ve got to live with them.
   • If it’s a horse show, you never know when you’ll want to breed your mare to their stallion, or when they might be judging you (or your child or best friend).
   • Besides, being rude to others is just going to make your own day miserable.

Longing and long-lining

1. Don’t try it in a crowded arena. Please.
   • There are probably other arenas, or a pasture or round pen, for longing or long-lining.
   • I’ve even long-lined in parking lots. Many times.
   • If you absolutely must longe or long-line your horse in the arena, do it very early or very late, when no one else is using it.
2. If the arena is empty, it’s fine. But if a bunch of riders come in, at the very least you should ask them if they mind you taking up a big section of the arena.
3. If there are a few people riding when you enter, ask them if they mind you longing or long-lining.
   • Clearly, if the arena is giant, you have a lot more leeway.

Dogs, cats, and toddlers

Yes, I’ve had cats follow me into arenas. At the racetrack in Madrid, a stable cat would follow the trainer I rode for (her person) all the way to the center of the training track and back every morning.

1. You really shouldn’t bring your dog or toddler, and if possible, discourage the cat.
2. That said… I personally have no issue with well-trained dogs being in the arena. I see it as training. So if you really want to bring your dog, and it’s well-trained, check with the other people at your stable first. If they don’t mind, it’s fine.
3. If you must bring your toddler, set up a play pen in the middle, with permission from all other riders.
   • This is only partly in jest. It’s a solution if you have no other, for riding with small children.
   • It’s also good training. Horses should be able to work around flying toys and screaming kids.
   • But it’s not ideal.

Exiting the arena

1. Wait for a break in traffic.
2. Try not to get in others’ way.
3. Be quick.
4. Close the gate behind you if it was closed.

An alternative way to share the arena

All of the above rules reflect my experience. They most certainly apply to English style riding, and probably have their origins in British traditions. They served me well in the warm-up arenas at Morgan shows that include Western riders, drivers, and everything else a versatile breed has to offer. But they might not apply to sharing an arena with others in the Western horse world.

I’ve asked my boyfriend, whose experience is with cutting horses, about it. His response was along the lines of “Huh? Arena etiquette? Isn’t just common sense?” But when I pressed him, it turned out there were some unspoken rules… At least, there was one rule customarily followed:

Go the same direction

This makes a lot of sense when you realize that for most cuttings, an arena is split between the show ring and the warm-up ring. This means the warm-up ring is going to be small, at least in most cases. And there will be a lot of people riding in it. It’s simply safer for everyone to go the same way.

I’ve encountered this at small shows since moving to Oklahoma. Many times, the warm-up arena is just a tiny area at one end of the show ring. Sometimes people go the same way. I’ve been known to yell “reverse” before turning my horse… people are always accommodating.

Apparently, it’s a thing to do something similar in a large arena. Rather than have everyone riding as they wish, using the entire ring, as we would in English disciplines or Morgan shows, people split the arena in two. At one end, riders ride to the left; at the other, they ride to the right. You could make Figure 8s… but you’d have to stick to the same direction everyone else was going at each end.

The National Reining Horse Association has spelled out enforceable (by show management) rules for the warm-up arena along these lines:

This would never work in Morgan shows where everyone wants to work a long rail (and there are carts). It’s probably best for Western riders who tend to lope circles and other things that can be done in less space. But it’s a great, simple-to-understand alternative to all the arena etiquette rules I’ve outlined above.

Have I forgotten anything?

If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments.

Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions! Special thanks to the Chronicle of the Horse Forum and Facebook page The Blue Pony.

Pony Club Arena Etiquette is listed here.