My previous barn was similar. Yes I could ride during lessons ( if I was brave enough to take my 30 days under saddle 17 plus hand beast into the ring with a dozen squealing children) but the expectation was that I would ride in the same gait and direction as the kids.
It wasn’t 1500 a month though!
I have not experienced a book a time set up.
I would be frustrated too with a noon notice that the ring was going to be closed all evening. With my work schedule that would basically mean I couldn’t ride that day. Have you inquired about other boarding options yet?
I haven’t experienced a book a time set up either. That would be frustrating to work around for the average amateur with a full time job.
We’ve got two outdoor rings so it’s a non-issue in the summer. Unfortunately we only have one small-ish indoor where we are stuck for six months of the year (yay Canada). We’re allowed to ride with lessons, but I don’t find it productive.
Lessons usually end by 8pm, so that’s when I ride. I can get the same thing accomplished in 30 minutes, vs trying to ride around other people for 45 min- 1hr. I like to incorporate poles into my rides, which is next to impossible if a lesson is happening.
For me, the ideal is a barn with a large outdoor and a decent-sized indoor ring, to be able to work around lessons, and to be able to use the indoor in bad weather or during an outdoor group lesson that’s just too unwieldy to navigate (like a dressage lesson with lots of lateral work or a group jumping lesson).
I’ve never really had the ideal, though. TBH, I wouldn’t mind having to book a time, as long as that time was honored. I once leased a horse at a barn on a private property–the owner insisted her dogs didn’t like me, so gave me only an hour to ride and get the hell out of there–which I understood, since her house was right there, but then, sometimes, the dogs would need to be out early/late during my scheduled hour and I’d still get chased off early. Early on in my riding career, I briefly leased at a place with the “can’t go faster than the gait of the lesson” but wasn’t told this rule until I violated it, and was duly chastened. I felt terrible and ignorant, and was confused when I moved on to a barn when that wasn’t a rule. But neither situation was $1500 a month, either!
I have to say that at most of the places I’ve ridden at, the lesson/boarder ride times do become a factor. Beginner lessons are, well, beginner-y. More advanced lessons require more of the ring, and sometimes green horses can be unpredictable. I’ve heard some boarders joke that trainers schedule lessons deliberately, to encourage riders to take lessons to have more of the ring to themselves. But lessons haven’t always had priority at some barns–sometimes riders with their own horses/riding high-priority sales horses/preparing to show have come in during lessons and been given the right of way and draw the attention of the instructor.
It does make having a large arena to one’s self, when it happens, all the sweeter, I will say…like skiers feel about fresh powder, I can only assume, if I skied.
For me, the ideal is a barn with a large outdoor and a decent-sized indoor ring, to be able to work around lessons, and to be able to use the indoor in bad weather or during an outdoor group lesson that’s just too unwieldy to navigate (like a dressage lesson with lots of lateral work or a group jumping lesson).
I’ve never really had the ideal, though. TBH, I wouldn’t mind having to book a time, as long as that time was honored. I once leased a horse at a barn on a private property–the owner insisted her dogs didn’t like me, so gave me only an hour to ride and get the hell out of there–which I understood, since her house was right there, but then, sometimes, the dogs would need to be out early/late during my scheduled hour and I’d still get chased off early. Early on in my riding career, I briefly leased at a place with the “can’t go faster than the gait of the lesson” but wasn’t told this rule until I violated it, and was duly chastened. I felt terrible and ignorant, and was confused when I moved on to a barn when that wasn’t a rule. But neither situation was $1500 a month, either!
I have to say that at most of the places I’ve ridden at, the lesson/boarder ride times do become a factor. Beginner lessons are, well, beginner-y. More advanced lessons require more of the ring, and sometimes green horses can be unpredictable. I’ve heard some boarders joke that trainers schedule lessons deliberately, to encourage riders to take lessons to have more of the ring to themselves. But lessons haven’t always had priority at some barns–sometimes riders with their own horses/riding high-priority sales horses/preparing to show have come in during lessons and been given the right of way and draw the attention of the instructor.
It does make having a large arena to one’s self, when it happens, all the sweeter, I will say…like skiers feel about fresh powder, I can only assume, if I skied.
While I agree BMs should be mindful of ensuring there is time for boarder to ride, boarders need to understand that this sort of thing is generally dictate by the barn’s business model. Typically, in my area anyway, you basically have three sorts of barns:
(1) Boarding barns that don’t have a lesson program, or any specific trainer, attached to them. This type of place typically has the least restrictions on arena use and can be a great fit for some riders. But it also typically means that taking lessons is more expensive and more logistically challenging - you either need to trailer to a trainer, or arrange for one to come to you, there is less support horse management-wise (depending on the BM) and often there is no in barn “show team” or trailering to shows/clinic available. Lots of people pick this option as it can be less expensive, and comes with fewer restrictions overall.
(2) Boarding barn with trainer, and active lesson program (i.e. school). This is quite common as well in my area. It absolutely comes with the most restrictions in terms of arena use, and can be a very busy facility. The upsides are that you have an in-house trainer, can take lessons regularly (may or may not be mandatory), usually have a show team if you want to participate in that and there are trailering services. It is helpful to keep in mind that the lesson program in this sort of barn often effectively subsidizes some of the boarding client’s costs. The same number of lessons/training rides in this type of barn is typically less expensive than the program in barn #3.
(3) Barn number 3 is your higher end training-type barn. In house trainer, mandatory training program, typically less control for the individual boarder as the program is fairly set, but the facility isn’t as busy as this type of barn typically has fewer horses total, and a less busy lesson program. Some may have school horses, others will only have clients that are in a lease/own situation and actively showing.
There is no right of wrong answer, but you can’t sign up for barn #2, or even barn #3 even, and expect to have the same free access to the facilities as you would in barn #1.
At the places I’ve ridden at, I’ve always been told, very firmly and happily, that there’s no conflict between boarders riding and lessons, but that’s never been my experience in practice. Beginner lessons tend to be, well, beginner-y and steering is an issue. More advanced lessons demand greater use of the arena, and then all riders have to come to a standstill while the riders in the lesson jump the course, do lateral work, or sort out a green horse’s issues.
Even when I had the ideal–a large outdoor arena and small indoor arena, so I could at least pick the one not being used, on dark or wet days, there isn’t really a choice. Finally, there’s the issue that some boarders don’t like riding with one another, because they don’t think the other person uses the space respectfully, or other barn drama.
I would love sign-up times, but the one instance I was boarding at a private facility where that was done, the times weren’t honored.
At minimum, when there’s lots of arena sharing, there needs to be specific, agreed-upon policies about passing, slower and faster riders’ use of the rail, jumping (or not) out of lessons, and so forth. At the very first barn I leased I horse, there was a rule about not cantering when a non-cantering rider was in the arena. I didn’t know this, and was read the riot act after I violated the policy (which I obviously wouldn’t have done, if I’d known about it, but the owner assumed this was a universal rule, like passing left to left). Most barns I’ve ridden at want everyone going in the same direction as the lesson rider unless someone is jumping, but obviously this isn’t universal. The rules don’t need to be posted, necessarily, but it shouldn’t be assumed that all riders know them. This also goes for changing the jump course, taking down or rearranging jumps and poles by non-trainers.
Or you can pay a higher board price for a barn 2 type that maintains TWO equally equipped arenas. One which can be closed for lessons and the other remains open for boarders. Which is what I do. BO invested her dollars in arenas instead of fancy stall fronts. She’s a smart lady.
The barn I ride at is pretty laid back and everyone is like family. There is only one indoor ring and since I live in the Canadian prairies the weather is not conducive to riding outside a LOT of the time. I’ve been riding here for a year and we have always used an app to book time slots. With covid restrictions everyone is only allowed a 2-hour time slot and there is a maximum number of people per slot. This has never been a problem and people typically book their slot a week ahead but usually there isn’t a problem changing it on the fly if something comes up.
We are able to ride through lessons with the exception of the vaulting lessons (which are once a week for an hour). The rule for riding through lessons is that the lesson program has right-of-way at all times. When I’m in lessons we will often just use half of the arena. There are usually one or two riders who commonly ride through during that time slot - we are all very used to each other. I recently started part-boarding so I lesson on Wednesday nights with my instructor and ride on my own Sat/Sun mornings. Depending on what time I arrive I might have the arena to myself, I might ride through lessons, or I might just ride with a group of boarders who are on their own.
The biggest challenge is sticking to the 2-hour slot due to covid restrictions. If the barn isn’t busy it’s not a big deal to run over, but if there is a lot of activity everyone tries very hard to be in and out within two hours.
i haul in to my weekly lesson (at noon on weekday). It’s an hour and a half each way…so there is the time and the gas. Lesson is NOT cheap and i also pay a 20$ arena fee on top of my lesson. I often bring in a green horse and only one time was a boarder also in the ring. If it were to happen frequently, i’d be looking for other lesson options.
We have scheduled jumping lessons once a week (small barn). There’s. Max of three horses in the ring during these. If there’s only one person in the lesson then 2 boarders can ride at the same time. The rest of the week any lessons would be individual so people would just ride around them.
Again thank you for your feedback! This situation is one a friend is in, and she seems very happy with the barn and care, but the riding during lessons restriction was new with covid. During the summer it was less of an issue, but with the cold and mucky weather here, on top of the increase in lessons (2 new coaches running consistent lessons out of the same facility), she is beginning to get frustrated by the limitations. She is shopping around for other options but is finding most of the facilities in her area are beginning to use the same model. i have to say for myself, where I am allowed to ride during lessons or even with other people, I appreciate that fact, but it does limit what I accomplish compared to when I am riding alone. I like the idea of 2 indoor rings, but I find that is extremely uncommon in my area (and hers) unless the facility was built with the intention of hosting indoor horse shows (lessons in the large “show arena”, boarders ride in the smaller “warm-up arena”). It’s great to hear everyone’s experiences and suggestions!
My barn doesn’t close the arena during lessons, but it’s a small lesson program (maybe 3 riders/lesson, usually only 1 or 2). It’s fine as long as the riders utilize common sense. Like maybe don’t lunge your naughty horse during a beginner lesson. Or set up a course of jumps during a lesson. When the weather’s nice it’s not a problem at all since there are three arenas and we can ride in whatever pasture’s not being used for turnout. But since I live where there is winter we all have to get along for at least 6 months of the year. And we nearly always do.
My schedule is such that I usually get out there on weekdays when lessons are winding down and I just avoid Saturday mornings for several reasons. No lessons on Sundays unless it’s an outside trainer and that’s pretty rare. I honestly like riding with the lesson kids, though. We have a pretty nice group!
Wow! Two indoor rings?
That is almost unheard of around here. (There is one place that hosts lots of shows that has two indoors, but other than that, even the most fancy places still only have one.)
Cooperation and respect among the riders makes most things possible. 
Arena size, as well as the number of arenas and the space for riding outside of the arenas, can make a difference as to how well it all works without drama, depending on the number of riders.
I currently board at a place with only 8 stalls, but it is nonetheless a very active barn. I’ve been in barns with more stalls/boarders/riders and less traffic in the arenas and riding areas, because fewer people were out at any given time. At this barn, every day people are out riding. There are boarders riding their own horses, lesson students riding lesson horses, and haul-in’s getting lessons or joining a friend on a ride. Communications is good and people are aware of the experience level of each of the horses and riders. It’s a great place and as drama-free as is possible.
I do think that whatever the program or model, it is key for the facility to make the riding schedule (and areas) clear to boarders before they commit to the barn. It would save the barn a lot of turnover, as well as make the boarders happier.
Lol! No way! I’m in Florida. Nobody has indoors! Maybe a covered, but even that’s pretty rare.
I see your point. If you live in the frozen north, this probably isn’t an option. Totally forgot about all that winter mess. But if you’d like to try the South, I’d love to show you hospitality
We are hack around lessons, in the summer it isn’t a issue at all but during the winter it can be a bit tricky since our indoor is small if they are coursing but it is doable with everyone looking out for one another. Lessons get right of way and I pay attention what they are jumping. This year, we are booking ride times to keep a minimum of three to four people in the indoor at a time because of COVID and that is enough for our tiny indoor.
This. At the main barn where I have boarded and leased for the past several years, the BO says that no single user group ever has exclusive use of any arena unless they have paid for it, but it’s really difficult for the boarders who want to ride between 3pm and 7pm weekdays to get anything meaningful done in a good sized indoor when half is monopolized by the up down lesson program. The “lesson factory” (as I call it to myself) typically has 3 riders in the ring at a time for 30 minute lessons - with the lesson horses coming and going at 30 minute intervals, and none of the lesson riders doing the same thing they way they would in a true group lesson. The program has lots of beginner beginners, tiny tots being lead or with side walkers, and often times cones or a couple of ground poles/cavaletti set up in “their” end. For me, it has been manageable to share the ring if all I am trying to do is stretch the horse’s legs or practice riding in traffic, but as far as really focusing on skill building or an exercise that requires more space than a 20m cicle or square, nope, not doable.
@Groom&Taxi exactly! And it’s also frustrating to ride a horse that really needs a bit of stretch to function well before working. One horse I leased was the type who really needed a full arena trot and canter 'round, just once or twice, before being able to loosen up to do meaningful work. In an arena with multiple lessons and boarders riding, that wasn’t feasible, and warming up at a faster gait than a walk on a tiny circle just didn’t work for him. It kept leading to a spiral of bad rides and any issues was always “fixed” by riding alone, or with just one other person, or simply having enough space for a proper warmup.
My barn has always had fairly restricted hours (closed between noon and 3 p.m. every day and no riding after the 6 p.m. slot, closed at 1 p.m. on Sat/Sun, closed all day Monday). BUT, we had always been allowed to hack during lessons. Since COVID, however, the barn went to a scheduled ride time model, with separate hack times vs lesson times, meaning no hacking during lessons. Once school started this fall and the kids’ schedules made it so they cannot ride during the mornings, they’re all crammed into the 3, 4, 5 and 6 p.m. lesson time slots, meaning no one can hack in the afternoons. If you want to hack your horse, the only time available to do it is 9 a.m. Tues-Fri. Saturday and Sunday mornings are only assigned lesson times. It’s a complete PITA.
My work schedule right now is 2 days a week in the office and 3 days a week of work from home, so thankfully I am able to hack at 9 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. My horse has generally always had a Tuesday pro ride anyway but now i’m stuck doing an additional Wednesday pro ride since I cannot hack in the morning and also cannot lesson at 6 p.m. because that slot is full. If some are at a horse show, like the next three weeks, that opens up the 6 p.m. Wednesday time slot considerably, however, if I want to ride then, it must be a lesson and not a hack. Again, complete PITA.
I’m REALLY hoping that the barn goes back to the old way where we are allowed to hack during lessons at some point in the not too distant future. I’m trying to be patient about it, telling myself this is only until things level out with COVID, but it is really wearing on me. For context, since others mentioned above too, board is $1400/month. It’s an all boarder barn, meaning no lesson horses, only barn leased horses and owners.
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