In the great long list of things to do with riding I am scared of, riding in a busy arena is quite near the top. I am planning to do my first off-yard dressage test before Xmas so I have to crack this so I can cope with the warm up. Today we were riding with one friend who I often ride with, a very well-schooled dressage horse, and another horse was being lunged. I found it impossible not to feel panic stricken - particularly by the horse on the lunge. As a result I ride like a numpty and get in everyone's way. It isn't rational - Flicks is a bit of a grump and often pulls faces at passing horses but that is all. I know I need to ignore the others and just get on with it but I'm definitely not there yet. Does anyone have any tips?
getting confident riding in the school with others
- Thread starter sophie33
- Start date
I can't speak for others, but I won't ride in a school if someone is lunging.
I lunge in a school while others lunge because you both have the same vantage point on what you can see. You are both just circling.
I ride in a school while others ride because again you are both looking at things from the same vantage point.
So if it's any help at all, ride while others ride and not anyone lunging. Unless you have an absolutely huge school.
I lunge in a school while others lunge because you both have the same vantage point on what you can see. You are both just circling.
I ride in a school while others ride because again you are both looking at things from the same vantage point.
So if it's any help at all, ride while others ride and not anyone lunging. Unless you have an absolutely huge school.
Same as NF, I am not a fan of people lunging and riding in the same space at the same time - it's just a disaster waiting to happen! But that wasn't your fault.
The first step is to make sure you understand the "rules of the school" - the guidelines all riders should follow when they're sharing an enclosed riding space with others. They're there to stop people crashing into each other. You actually don't need to learn how to ignore other riders, you need to learn how to be AWARE of the others and what they're doing. You can't keep out of each other's way if you aren't paying attention to each other. Second tip is to make sure you always look where you're going and not down at the horse or your hands! Aside from that it's just an issue of practise, you will get used to sharing the more you do.
The first step is to make sure you understand the "rules of the school" - the guidelines all riders should follow when they're sharing an enclosed riding space with others. They're there to stop people crashing into each other. You actually don't need to learn how to ignore other riders, you need to learn how to be AWARE of the others and what they're doing. You can't keep out of each other's way if you aren't paying attention to each other. Second tip is to make sure you always look where you're going and not down at the horse or your hands! Aside from that it's just an issue of practise, you will get used to sharing the more you do.
Been on two yards where the school was a circus so can understand your desire to get used to it and ride in a relaxed way. First yard was organised chaos - but it threw me in at the deep end and I lived to tell the tale. Plus being the yard numpty and such, most folk gave us a wide berth
Moving onto yard two with Olympic size arena. You'd think given the space it would be easier but it was worse cos folk would lunge near us and it wound madam up. Plus we had the resident yard p*ss taker whi always decided they were going to set up jumps and god help anyone who got in their way
Again, not being the best rider in the world most avoided us....... Apart from the above who had skin like a rhino and obviously a death wish......
Seriously, I think its just a case of playing by the rules and trying to keep calm and concentrate on what you want to do and achieve. Observe school rules and hope others also do.
Moving onto yard two with Olympic size arena. You'd think given the space it would be easier but it was worse cos folk would lunge near us and it wound madam up. Plus we had the resident yard p*ss taker whi always decided they were going to set up jumps and god help anyone who got in their way
Again, not being the best rider in the world most avoided us.......
Apart from the above who had skin like a rhino and obviously a death wish......Seriously, I think its just a case of playing by the rules and trying to keep calm and concentrate on what you want to do and achieve. Observe school rules and hope others also do.
One of our liveries is absolutely appalling at sharing the school with other people, even if you're the only person riding with her you'll still find her cantering right up your backside at some point... it's 65x45m for goodness' sake, it's not even small 
Luckily everyone else on the yard is fine with sharing, so they just do their best to keep out of her way!
The warmup arenas at most of our local competition venues are the same sort of size and there's usually 10-12 riders in there at a time, some of whom will be jumping. You get used to sharing after a while - you have to!
Luckily everyone else on the yard is fine with sharing, so they just do their best to keep out of her way!The warmup arenas at most of our local competition venues are the same sort of size and there's usually 10-12 riders in there at a time, some of whom will be jumping. You get used to sharing after a while - you have to!
I agree understanding school rules/etiquette is essential as then you can feel confident about who should give way/get priorty on the track etc so you can be less worried about collisions/close encounters. My top tip for warm up's if you are a bit worried is to put a kicker or novice ribbon on your horse, it indicates to people they need to give you a little bit more space which can take the pressure off a bit 
put a kicker or novice ribbon on your horse, it indicates to people they need to give you a little bit more space which can take the pressure off a bit
I would never have thought of that!! I like that.
Thanks all - a novice or kicker ribbon is a very good idea. Bit unfair on poor Flicks - the ribbon should be on me really! - but it would definitely help
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