Beginner: Ring Rules

When you're very first learning to ride you may be lucky enough to have the ring to yourself, and hopefully even if you're sharing the ring, you've got an instructor present who's entirely capable of managing who's where at what time. But eventually you're going to want to ride is a less structured environment -- be it anything from a practice ride to a competition warm-up ring -- at which point you'll need to know some basics.

1. THINK. Really people, that's all it takes :) You can forget every other rule if you keep your eyes open and your brain engaged. It helps if you apply some common sense too, but just being aware of the world around you is a good start. That sounds so obvious, but it's amazing how easy it is to let your world shrink to just you and your horse and be completely oblivious of everybody else.

2. If somebody falls, halt. Do not continue your ride until such time as you're sure the person is ok (if they need help, put your horse somewhere safe and either help them or call someone who can) and their horse is caught.

3. Mount/dismount in the centre of the ring and out of the way of any jumps. And if you use a mounting box, make sure you position it where it too will be out of the way after you leave.

4. Pass left to left. This is the same way we drive. And walk. And ride escalators. Ironically when I was riding in Australia, where they drive and walk and escalate on the other side, I was amazed to discover they (at least the people I was with) still rode left to left.

5. Slower horses to the inside. If you're walking, get out of the way of those cantering. That being said, I've been informed that in the western world (about which I know very little) it's actually the opposite. Fast horses are on the inside. So be aware that when you switch disciplines some of the rules will change. In English though, if you're slower than somebody else, get out of the way.

6. Horses jumping have right of way. They have to be able to land, so avoid circling immediately behind a jump somebody's approaching. Likewise, don't ride between somebody and their jump. Even if there's enough space it's very disconcerting and can effect both horse and rider.

7. Horses doing lateral work have right of way (after those jumping). So if you're going straight and can easily steer away, do so and let those trying very hard to go sideways to continue. Note – if you’re in a dressage barn, the odds are good *everybody* has right of way over those jumping.

8. If you are riding around a lesson in progress, refrain from jumping.

9. When in doubt, call it. If you're really confused about everything else and have no idea where you're supposed to be, decide where you're going and announce it: "Inside" "Circling" whatever... The other rider would rather swerve around you than have you crash into them! Now this does not mean you need to announce every single thing -- that gets old very fast. Just if there's a chance the other rider might not understand what you're doing. This also applies to jumping -- don't just assume everybody knows where you're going.

But like I said – if you can remember number 1 the rest will work itself out! Have fun :)