Question about riders going different directions. Am I in the wrong?

[alternate_universe]

I’ve been riding quite a long time and the barn where I originally learned to ride had a pretty solid “pass left to left” rule. The only exception was if someone was in a lesson and was specifically on or off the rail for a reason OR is the trainer/BO was schooling a horse and needed to be on or off the rail.

At my current barn there is no posted rule about how to pass riders doing the opposite directions. Obviously people in lessons have the right of way, but for people just schooling together some people seem to have different ideas. Usually when I’m riding with other adults there are no issues. It’s a huge arena and we all stay out of each other’s way, usually without ever having to say a word. But once in awhile I have situation where I almost or actually do cut someone off or almost bump into them and I’m always flustered and anxious for the rest of ride because I don’t know if they blame me or think I’m careless.

For example, the other day I was riding with a couple other adults on one end of the ring. A beginner group was having a jumping lesson at the other. So naturally, most of us just avoid that end all together because it’s crowded and those riders don’t have their power steering or breaks yet. However, one rider – a young woman who’s a very experienced A/AA rider – seemed to be making no effort to actively stay out of other riders’ ways (the other adults) and seemed to expect everyone to just know where she was going. For example, I was trotting on the rail and she was cantering towards me. Naturally, I was expecting her to turn off the rail and making a circle or something, but instead she proceeded to just keep cantering right at me. Finally she called out that she wanted the outside track, so I shimmied my horse to the inside as quickly as I could. We encounter the same scenario again, her cantering towards me as I trotted, I waited to see is she was changing directions or going to say something, and then I started moving towards the inside… but then so is she, and she yells “Inside please!”. And I awkwardly drag my horse back the rail as she speeds by.

Am I missing something? I’m used to most of us just avoiding each other altogether so that no one ends up playing chicken on the rail. There are usually outside lines of jumps set up so it can be a tight squeeze in areas to try to pass on the rail. So most people seem to try to avoid that situation. But this girl would just come straight at people. Then again, she was also cantering down through the other end as the 4 or 5 beginners were walking around… which I thought was totally unnecessary, but maybe that’s just me.

[Abbie.S]

There are three standard rules I have seen at quite literally, without exception, every barn I’ve ever ridden at.

1. Pass left shoulder to left shoulder.

2. Lessons have the right of way.

3. The horse moving at the faster gait uses the outside track. Slower horses move to the inside.

So it sounds like the person you had the misfortune of riding with the other day perhaps knew these rules, but was just A) careless and/or B) thought everyone else knew and could tell where she was headed.

I think you need to grow a bit thicker skin when it comes arena etiquette :winkgrin: No reason to ruin a ride because mistakes were made. Just stop your horse, smile and say “Sorry! I didn’t communicate very well just then. Do you mind if we abide by left shoulder to left shoulder to pass/if I can use the outside to school for a few minutes/shouting to me in advance where you are headed so I can prepare? Thanks!”

As for your arena friend, let the riding instructor get on her if she’s cantering through someone’s lesson, but do speak up if you are concerned about safety. “Hey Jane, I just need a bit more heads up in regards to where you are going, especially if you’re doing a lot of canter work, so we can all stay safe.”

As an aside, perhaps mention to the BO that some ground rules for the arena would be helpful to keep everyone on the same page.

[alternate_universe]

[QUOTE=Abbie.S;8958340]
There are three standard rules I have seen at quite literally, without exception, every barn I’ve ever ridden at.

1. Pass left shoulder to left shoulder.

2. Lessons have the right of way.

3. The horse moving at the faster gait uses the outside track. Slower horses move to the inside.

So it sounds like the person you had the misfortune of riding with the other day perhaps knew these rules, but was just A) careless and/or B) didn’t think the rules applied to her.

I think you need to grow a bit thicker skin when it comes arena etiquette :winkgrin: No reason to ruin a ride because mistakes were made. Just stop your horse, smile and say “Sorry! I didn’t communicate very well just then. Do you mind if we abide by left shoulder to left shoulder to pass/if I can use the outside to school for a few minutes/shouting to me in advance where you are headed so I can prepare? Thanks!”

As for your arena friend, let the riding instructor get on her if she’s cantering through someone’s lesson, but do speak up if you are concerned about safety. “Hey Jane, I just need a bit more heads up in regards to where you are going, especially if you’re doing a lot of canter work, so we can all stay safe.”[/QUOTE]

I thought faster horses stayed on the inside because they have more maneuverability to navigate in a smaller space? Maybe I’m just remembering it backwards.

I normally would atleast apologize and such, but you really can’t when the other rider literally does not stop. lol

I get frazzled with this particular other person because she is basically the most influential, shall we say, client to the head trainer/BO. I would not want her telling other riders/trainers that I am careless or dangerous to school around… though I think most people know I am not.

[Abbie.S]

[QUOTE=alternate_universe;8958349]
I normally would atleast apologize and such, but you really can’t when the other rider literally does not stop. lol

I get frazzled with this particular other person because she is basically the most influential, shall we say, client to the head trainer/BO. I would not want her telling other riders/trainers that I am careless or dangerous to school around… though I think most people know I am not.[/QUOTE]

I think you’re worried too much about what other people think

Could you catch this person when she’s done riding? Same sort of thing, “Hey Jane, I would appreciate a bit more communication in the arena when it’s being shared, just so everyone stays safe and on the same page”.

You don’t need to go into detail about her past transgressions, or knock her, just make it a friendly request.

[Lusoluv]

All the barns I know of have a passing Left-to-Left understanding - posted or not. Why defer and wait until she calls a lane? You have the same right to the arena as she does so you should call inside or outside based on the left-to-left rule. Maybe she’ll get the hint!

[fjordmom]

Like AbbieS, I too, was taught pass left to left and lessons have priority.
Like you, I was also taught faster horses move to the inside.
However, if you are walking, you walk off the rail and allow others to pass on the rail (either direction) if they are moving faster.
So there obviously is “minor” variation between barns as to what is standard.
When in doubt, we’d call out “left to left.”
It’s all a matter of polite communication. As suggested, maybe ask the other AA what she was taught and ask if you are mistaken in your understanding. A friendly dialog about how to communicate going forward should clear things up.

[eclipse]

I was taught the 3 rules like Abbies posted, although if they see someone doing a specific exercise like haunches in down the long wall; or leg yield down the long wall, I will forget the “rules” and move myself away from them so they can complete their exercise!

[SuzieQNutter]

Always give way to lateral work.

[Peggy]

I was at a barn where an AQHA trainer told me that the younger rider has the right of way. This was the tip of the iceberg WRT issues with this person.

[Inese]

This is an interesting discussion, as I have experienced different rules in different barns. The boarding barns that have dressage and eventers know use the ‘left shoulder to left shoulder pass for oncoming traffic’ pretty consistently.

However, I now board in a H/J barn that has a large lesson program 7 days per week. The rule is “everyone rides in the same direction” so NO oncoming traffic, except for the lesson person jumping a course. Faster horses pass on the inside - otherwise stick to the rail at all speeds, still going the same direction. The change of direction is communicated and agreed upon by the trainers and adult riders in the ring.

And the indoor is plenty large enough for the lesson person to jump an entire course without having to interfere with anyone riding on the rail, and they have priority if there is a tight spot between two horses…

[tbchick84]

I’m incredibly forward when it comes to my horse and safety. I’ve had this come up a few times and have had zero reservations pointing out we always pass left to left, always call circles and lateral work gets the right of way. If they have a problem with it, they’re free to speak to the BM. Nobody has taken issue with it yet. I cut the newbies and kids some slack until they learn the rules, but adults are expected to act like adults.

[outside_leg]

[QUOTE=Inese;8958473]
However, I now board in a H/J barn that has a large lesson program 7 days per week. The rule is “everyone rides in the same direction” so NO oncoming traffic, except for the lesson person jumping a course. [/QUOTE]

Wow, that’s the first I’ve ever heard of such a rule. I can’t say I understand it, either. At some point, riders and horses have to learn to deal with oncoming traffic. Just think about the chaos of so many warm-up rings at shows. Plus, that would drive me nuts as a boarder. I change direction often. It keeps horses more engaged and helps teach them to bend. I’ve seen far too many lessons where they just keep going on the same rein for ten minutes before changing direction. I couldn’t do the same.

[fordtraktor]

Chill. IME, the faster person should call their side and both should just avoid assuming “rules.” Because “rules” rarely coincide. I was taught left to left but often warmed up at shows where the person jumping seems to get deference. So who knows, just keep your eyes open and avoid others. If I am walking or trotting quietly I always move out of the way of others. If both at same gait, left to left but I will dodge if the other person seems to have an agenda. I waste zero space worrying about traffic unless there is a collision (only once in 28 years and trainer cussed out the culprit, the other person).

[tbchick84]

[QUOTE=Inese;8958473]

However, I now board in a H/J barn that has a large lesson program 7 days per week. The rule is “everyone rides in the same direction” so NO oncoming traffic, except for the lesson person jumping a course. Faster horses pass on the inside - otherwise stick to the rail at all speeds, still going the same direction. The change of direction is communicated and agreed upon by the trainers and adult riders in the ring.

.[/QUOTE]

Wow, this crowd must be fun to share a warmup ring with. How can they not teach such a basic safety and courtesy skill?

[Inese]

[QUOTE=outside_leg;8958503]
Wow, that’s the first I’ve ever heard of such a rule. I can’t say I understand it, either. At some point, riders and horses have to learn to deal with oncoming traffic. Just think about the chaos of so many warm-up rings at shows. Plus, that would drive me nuts as a boarder. I change direction often. It keeps horses more engaged and helps teach them to bend. I’ve seen far too many lessons where they just keep going on the same rein for ten minutes before changing direction. I couldn’t do the same.[/QUOTE]

Yes, it torqued my little brain too… at first.

But it works well when there are little kids doing up/down lessons, and most are 1 trainer with 1 private student type lessons. If it is a quiet night, everyone can ride in all directions, but if there are lessons going on, that is when the ‘same direction’ courtesy rule comes into play.

[snaffle635]

From what you’ve described, you’re definitely following the rules correctly.

However, it sounds like there’s an unwritten rule at this barn that this particular rider has the right of way at all times - at least in her own mind.

Another explanation is that some people have much different ideas of ‘personal space’ when riding. I like a lot of space around me and generally give a wide berth to others. But I’ve noticed that more advanced riders seem to be more comfortable passing more closely - just check out the busy jumper warm up ring at a big show!

[Inese]

[QUOTE=tbchick84;8958511]
Wow, this crowd must be fun to share a warmup ring with. How can they not teach such a basic safety and courtesy skill?[/QUOTE]

Keep in mind that the lesson rider will be the oncoming traffic, and typically pass left to left, since they ride the inside track, and everyone else stays on the rail…

So our show team is actually better prepared for the warm-up chaos than others who only train in an arena by themselves LOL!

The riders compete in “C” shows (www.ptsshows.net), the “B” shows (www.nihja.org) and “A” shows (Lamplight/Ledges) - all around Chicago.

[NeedsAdvil]

I think generally, left shoulder to left shoulder,and if you are walking get off the rail are universal. However, some depends on the particular barn. At one barn I rode at, I knew everyone and there were basically 3 of us who were very experienced riders. If we were in the ring with a lesson going on or less experienced riders, we would do our best to stay out of their way and communicate, as their steering/brakes may not always be well developed. In a large barn where you may not know everyone, universal rules should apply. I would be tempted to say something next time to the offender. If I’m in a good mood, it might be “oh, are we pretending we are Brits and driving opposite today?” If I’m in a bad mood, it might be “Passing left shoulder to left shoulder should end any confusion or need to call out where you are going. Okay?”. Some people think they own the ring no matter what, but I don’t think it’s ever wrong to educate someone about common courtesy, especially when your safety is involved.

[PonyPenny]

It is always left shoulder to left shoulder just like driving if you are hacking.

[Ponyclubrocks]

Many barns operate with their own set of rules. When in doubt, call it out. If someone is approaching me and I don’t know their intention, I don’t wait for them to speak, I say, “inside please” or “outside please” firmly. I don’t say it like it’s a question, but a statement of fact. If someone speaks first and claims a track I always yield to their claim since they spoke first.