No, we need to insult the OPs age and then make witty remarks about reading books.
On the topic of calling “door” vs asking permission…
A few years ago, I was boarding at a lovely place–great care, great trainer, the whole nine yards. I would’ve never left but for that I moved.
Anyway, I had my stepdaughters out to learn about grooming, tacking up and to ride but they were very very beginner so I was going to hand walk and give direction. This was approved by trainer. She told me to get them to W/T level and then she was going to give them lessons on my very sweet aged mare. So this was all above board. And it was Jan and freezing so the indoor was the only option.
I called door, walked in, and we weren’t even half way down the long side before the gal who was riding insisted we needed to leave until she was done riding because her horse couldn’t handle having a horse “that small” with a “walker”. It was distracting him, she said. Not blowing his mind, not causing a wreck, nothing like that. And she was a very experienced rider. I think she was just kind of territorial.
Well, she had been there a lot longer than I had and I didn’t want to cause drama so we left the arena and waited 20 min for her to wrap up. I was pretty baffled but I was also kind of new to arena etiquette.
I think that had that happened to me NOW, I would’ve smiled and said, “I’m sorry, did you reserve the arena today? I didn’t see a note, but I may have missed something. Should we call BO?”
That lady ended up being a really lovely companion at the barn, but it was kind of an initial territorial thing. She didn’t know me, didn’t know my horse, had been there longer, etc. I think people just get that way sometimes. Not a fan, but it’s human nature.
Now that I’m older and have better insurance (TOWANDA! reference) I likely wouldn’t be set aside so easily.
[QUOTE=Rallycairn;8979928]
luce, I was going to suggest holiday stress, but I think you have it right![/QUOTE]
Maybe it’s a combo? I was thinking it’s a bit early for arena drama; it’s gonna be a loooooonnnggg winter. :o
I think both parties sound equally unpleasant.
<<<<It is safety, courtesy and common sense and equestrian etiquette.<<<<
Thank you that was what I was trying to convey.
20 minutes is not what I am talking about. In that situation if the horse is having a problem and I felt the horse was going to be a danger to me or another person, I would ask for something easy and leave on a good note.
There is always tomorrow.
The ettiquette has to go both ways.
I also think calling “door” depends on the set up of your indoor. If you have a barely people sized door to go through and can’t see inside, calling door is definitely required. If you have an entryway in which to stand before entering the actual riding portion of the indoor, you just wait for your opportunity to enter the flow.
lol I actually did fall off one time because of someone not looking before walking into the ring last year. I was riding a spooky horse and the lower corner is the spooky corner because it is hard for them to see people/horses coming. My trainer was walking fast staring at her phone and she walked right in front of me as I was approaching the door and the horse I was on did a 180 so fast I was on the ground before I even knew what happened. Honestly I was pretty pissed off in the moment because if the situation were reversed I would have been screamed at/lectured but whatever it was funny
I am glad you were not hurt.
It was funny because you were not hurt. If he had stepped on you accidently neither of you would be laughing.
Whatever you are doing Safety first. One of the most dangerous things you can doing is lead a horse through a gate. Get it wrong and the way a gate opens more when it closes it can disembowel the horse.
I suggest never going through a gate, entering an arena or really even leading a horse while your attention is on a phone.
lol yeah I guess these days I pretty much expect to almost be killed by someone on their phone at least once a day
Although I have to say that I think just quietly checking if you can come through is better than calling “door” or “gate” loudly because at least in that particular example if she had yelled something the horse I was on probably would have had the same reaction hahaha
@IR: At my office they put up signs asking people to please not walk around glued to their phones because it might cause accidents
