warm up arenas

TheLadyInBay

TheLadyInBay

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Whilst out and about I have come to realise that warm up arenas are my idea of living hell! When people get into these areas they seem to be overcome by road rage and completely forget there are rules and seem to go by a " who dares wins" attitude and completely forget that there are other people in with them. I try and keep a sharp eye out for everyone else and try and ride onsiderable as possible and thank people where appropriate. So why do I find myself at constant risk of being flattened or flattening someone else when they dally out in front of me last second in canter?!

Rant over
 
Unfortunately ring stewards don't 'police' the warm up areas correctly & allow too many people in the area at one time. Additionally they do not pull up riders who are riding either inconsiderately or dangerously.
 
Something I have come to realise being the groom on the ground, so always watching, is the warm up for showing is every bit as cut throat as a show jumping warm up! I'm afraid I ended up saying to my rider she needed to get her elbows out, no one was giving way to anyone bar her! This was a pretty high level shows with pros and amateurs together. Not really nice to deal with.
 
Totally agree, thought it was just me!

At a recent RC event I attended I have a photo someone took of four riders walking four abreast round the arena chatting. In the corner, five are standing chatting and numerous others are trying to ride their horses at speed in the middle. The four abreast started on the track and worked their way in, leaving two horses widths between them. I'd never seen anything like it in my life! And my mare hates other horses being close to her too so its not much fun for me.
 
We (RC) have a limited 20x40 warm-up arena for dressage and had to put a notice up to stop people having their trainers / shouty friends from hogging the arena by standing in the middle of the warm-up giving a lesson (very dangerous in any case), lunging a child, blocking others from working in by taking off boots and bandages and standing chatting to helpers in the arena.
 
I think it shows peoples real colours! I get so fed up when you constantly have to give way, i now just say in a loud enough voice for them to hear either "never mind she's obviously just rude" or "she doesnt know how to say thank you" to my horse. If they keep doing it i just say in a bit louder voice "excuse me can you stop being so agressive and ride at a safe distance from me please" That usually does the trick.;)
 
Warm up arenas are a scary place for us whether or not there are inconsiderate riders! Last time there was only one other horse and his stable mate(we were there super early for this very reason) and we lasted all of about 5 mins before he got wound up by the 'stranger' and we decided to call it a day. However practice makes perfect! I'm just taking him on little outings so he gets more and more used to it each time, always at the crack of dawn so he doesn't bother anyone else too.
I also just get scared by those that bomb around the place; Of course you're going to need to pop a few jumps to get yourselves going but it's a bit nerve racking when you think a 16.2hh is cantering at quite a fast pace in your direction, not to mention the screaming instructor in the middle haha!
 
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