SAFETY AND ETIQUETTE IN THE WARM UP ARENA shared from Luse Horses It has came to my attention while attending horse shows that arena etiquette and safety needs to be addressed. I came across this great guide and decided to share. The warm up pen is a pretty dangerous place when every rider is concentrating on his or her own program and getting ready for their classes. Here are some general rules to follow that will make navigating the warm up arena easier and safer for you, your horse and your fellow competitors. • ALWAYS go with the flow of traffic. If the warm up arena is large enough to allow for two sets of circles, one circle should be loping to the left and one loping to the right. Be careful in the center of the circle intersection not to cross of into the other set of circles. If the warm up pen has only enough space to lope one circle, ask when you want to change direction, as most people will want to go both directions before they show. • Stay to the inside of the circle if you want to go slow, and to the outside of the circle if you want to go fast. • NEVER, NEVER, NEVER stop your horse in traffic. If you are at a reining event, there will be time to work on fencing and stopping your horse so that you will not have to avoid other riders that are circling. • If you need to school your horse, work on spins, or adjust equipment, move to the middle of a circle so that you’re not in the flow of traffic. • Do not pony horses in the warm up pen. • Always look where you are going, and watch out for other riders. You don’t drive your car while looking at the hood ornament and you shouldn’t ride your horse looking at his head, eyes up. • Don’t exercise young or green horses in the warm up pen while it is crowded; wait until later in the evening or early in the morning. SAFETY FIRST! Also, be considerate if you are NOT showing, allow those who have spent the money to compete the opportunity to get their horses ready for the competition if there is limited warm up area. • Yield to the tractor, and always listen to the arena announcer and ring steward. They are there for your safety and to keep the show running smoothly. Remember, every minute you waste when asked to leave the arena is just another minute longer that the show will last. • Don’t tie your horses in the warm up arena. No one wants to dodge a kicking or loose horse while they are getting ready to show. . Do not lunge in areas that it is posted, or stated NO LUNGEING! It is for the safety of all, lunging takes up far too much room and it is unsafe to have horses running around amongst riders who are riding in the flow of traffic. • If you have a question, ask. The only dumb questions are the ones that are never asked. • Always try to maintain a good sense of humor. People may be tired and nervous. Be patient with newcomers and try to help them learn by referring them to these guidelines. It is our job as riders to ensure the safety of ourselves, horses and others. Remember that some people don’t know that they don’t know, so take the time to explain to them the proper rules, I would rather them be mad at me for trying to keep them safe than to have them hurt one of my customers or family. RIDE SAFE!
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 02:02:03 +0000
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