This time of the year, the best option in many parts of the U.S. for training, exercising, and generally spending time with your beloved equine is to head for the indoor arena. (In the southern hemisphere, it’s summer!)

To remain on good terms with our horse-riding community, let’s review the rules of etiquette for any horse riding arena that is big enough to handle multiple riders at once.

Always remember that the first rule is to follow any posted rules.

What time to ride

Any large arena frequently used for multiple riders […]

“If a farmer fills his barn with grain, he gets mice. If he leaves it empty, he gets actors.”
-Sir Walter Scott

“The stable wears out a horse more than the road.”
-French Proverb

Aside from amusing us, the quotes above actually tell us something about the difference between a barn and a stable. The essential difference revealed is that stables are for horses (and other domestic animals) and barns are for actors.

Ok, not really for actors. But clearly the idea is that barns are considered multi-purpose structures and stables are for horses. You […]