Arena hogs

[exvet]

I am in the crowd who doesn’t have a full-size dressage arena at home so I do go to shows, schooling and recognized, and run through my tests if I have the time and opportunity to do so. I have never asked to have the arena to myself and rarely has anyone ever asked or expected the same except once or twice when they were on either a newly purchased horse or a very young horse. Most times when that has happened, I’ve stayed on the outside of the arena and as soon as they were done rode on in to do my thing. I see many people at our shows practicing their tests in the arena on the day before the show or if a schooling the morning of. I don’t have a problem with it and while I’ve run into pro who would appear to make every attempt to run over others in order to get them clear of the arena, she would usually avoid doing the same to my horse(s) because all too often I was on a stallion LOL.
Personally I would (and have) stand my ground if an unreasonable demand was made but for the 6 minutes for someone to ride their test, no problem.

I was asked once at a schooling show to ride my 13 hand pony ‘somewhere else’ after a couple of minutes in the warm up arena. I was schooling, not the test, just getting him supple and engaged minutes before I was to go in the competition arena. He as he always was very well behaved and in control. I think we were competing second, maybe third level. There was someone on a rather large warmblood who felt that my pony was causing her horse too much angst due to his diminutive size (LOL he’s a section C welsh cob so he thought he was larger than life). Her horse was blowing and spooking so I kept to one end of the arena and gave her the other half. She called her coach over who asked me to try to warm up in the parking lot…the coach was aware of my situation. I stated very clearly that I had already warmed up and showed a 4 year old stallion and a 3 year old, never been shown before, gelding who all took everything in stride with the exception of a couple of blips which I handled and accepted as character building experiences. I suggested to her and her student that they do the same. I made it clear that I would continue in the one half of the arena and time my passes towards their side to take place when her horse was no where near mine and if they couldn’t handle that then they would wait the 10 minutes for me to get called to do my test. Obviously I wasn’t and am not too popular with the ‘in crowd’ but my money is just as green as everyone else’s

[lw3127]

Wow. If their horse was the one with the problem, they should have been the ones to go elsewhere instead of asking you. When I’ve been in situations where my horse wasn’t handling something well, I’ve always been the one to change something or leave. Unless the other horse is actually misbehaving and causing problems, of course.

The entitlement of some people never fails to astound me.

[lorilu]

I think some folks believe that those of us at a schooling show are backyard ammies who have no idea of what is right and what is wrong - so they try to take advantage. I know that our GMO runs a very successful and very organized schooling show series - yet we consistently have someone who doesnt think they need a helmet in western dressage (its in our omnibus many times), think they can call in an entry after the closing date and pay at the show (or not show up…), use whatever stall they find unlocked, can use illegal equipment… whatever. I have heard “But its only a schooling show!” more than once. Good for you for saying “no”!
And lets not even discuss the blowback when the “S” judge eliminates a competitor for a loose helmet chin strap (after she was warned)…

[Tarlo_Farm]

@atr

I board my horse at a rather posh dressage barn. (He’s one that ignores the garbage truck roaring past the ring, but spooks at the flower boxes and mounting block.)

The neighboring property sold a few months ago, and has been turned into a little hobby farm, with pigs and goats and, new this week, some charming little calves, all right along the fence line with our turnouts.

Its great! A few boggley eyes to start with, but its the peaceable kingdom out there now.

We are trying to work out how to persuade them to get a Llama or two to add to the collection…

Spotted cows. Try to get them to get spotted cows. Those just finished my old horse. He could NOT wrap his brain around such a creature.

[Graymaresrule]

Or peacocks

[seriously1]

We have peacocks at our barn. Most horses care less than their owners…

[Fiesta01]

I seriously don’t understand people who expect a warm-up arena to cater to their needs. As along as everyone is following the basic traffic and safety rules, everyone should be equal. It was very polite of you to offer to stay at one end of the arena.

I remember riding one of my OTTB mares in the warm-up. Everything was going well until the cutest little show pony came up beside her. Ponies in general didn’t bother her. Our barn had its share of Shetland type ponies.

But this was a “show pony.” You know, the beautiful fine-boned, mini-TB looking ponies. It totally blew her mind. I hadn’t even caught sight of the pony who was coming up from behind and to the side. My mare suddenly dropped out from under me and then about 4 feet sideways. I landed on my feet holding her reins in a split second.

The very polite pony rider understood the reason for the spook, stopped her pony and asked if I would like her to warm up elsewhere. I thanked her for offering and said absolutely not. I told her to do what she needed to do, and my mare would have to learn to deal with it.

As said by others, these are training opportunities. Riders who expect other riders to adjust to the problems they’re having with their own horses need to ride motorcycles, not horses.

[Graymaresrule]

I’m sure my mare would have gotten used to them eventually but they made for a very poor test.

The same mare and I were innocently warming up at another show when we were mounted by a rather large stallion

[hut-ho78]

That is so dangerous! Glad you lived to tell the tale. Warm up rings scare the crap out of me just being “volunteered” to be gate person and get people back on schedule.

[Mersidoats]

@Graymaresrule

I’m sure my mare would have gotten used to them eventually but they made for a very poor test.

The same mare and I were innocently warming up at another show when we were mounted by a rather large stallion

Oh dear Lord. How on earth does that happen? Did they apologize? I ride a stallion and he never even looks at the mares in the warm up. I guess someone gave him a talk early in his career.

[Tarlo_Farm]

This wasn’t in a warm up ring, but my - and my mare’s - first schooling show. We entered, halted at X, and my mare spotted the draft horses in the field behind the judge at A. UP went her head, DOWN went her back, and she FROZE.
Not until I got her moving and circling to the left at A did I get her back in my hands.

It was simply too funny. I think the judge’s comment was something about the “good square halt, above the bit”… hahahahahahah!!!

[Graymaresrule]

No. He acted as though we were at fault. I didn’t even know they were behind me.

[BrendaJane]

charming, I am sure.
A good reason to start a castration fund.
and maybe cut the horse while you are at it.

[trubandloki]

@Graymaresrule

No. He acted as though we were at fault. I didn’t even know they were behind me.

How could that ever be your fault? Geez. That is a weird attitude.

[Mersidoats]

What a jerk.

[Graymaresrule]

@BrendaJane

harming, I am sure.
A good reason to start a castration fund.
and maybe cut the horse while you are at it.

Or, as I used to say at work “Just gimme a rubber band”

[BrendaJane]