1) Have a schedule.
This is SO IMPORTANT. I mean, yeah, there are going to be peak times that are harder than others, but if you (or anyone else) has some flexibility in their schedules, this makes sharing about a thousand times easier. If I can see that everyone and their dog are going to be out at noon on Saturday, maybe I'll come at 8am instead.
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| because no one wants to ride with this |
It's winter. Turnout happens sometimes, indoors can be spooky, horse do random shit at the best of times. Don't take it personally that the green rider can't steer or the paint horse is bucking or my OTTB is bouncing off of you AGAIN (cough sorry E cough). Roll with it it. As long as you keep on riding and make good decisions, your horse is at the very least getting more broke and maybe hopefully learning something useful too.
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| I MISS YOU OUTDOOR ARENA |
This one is a little harder to quantify, but remember that horses are prey animals and spook at things that are out of place or surprising... so maybe... don't whisper, hide, and poke your head out random places. Just talk in a normal voice, be aware of your surroundings, and act like everything is fine.
Really. PLEASE stop whispering, hiding, and popping out of random places so your don't "disturb" me. You're making it worse.
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| cough or "my tinsel-wrapped monster is coming in now" |
If you have a problem, TALK to either the party involved or your BO/BM. They can't fix a problem they don't know about, and just letting problems fester creates drama that no one needs. Sometimes we have to put up and shut up, but most things can be prevented with a little simple communication 101.
Haha, so there's my guide for surviving the indoor. Here's hoping I can stick to it and stay alive until we can escape outside... C'mon FEBRUARY!!!
Everything you said makes sense. We have an online calendar where we can see lessons and avoid those times. And yet - this makes me feel like the worst person ever - I'm annoyed if I have to share with even one person. The barn is not big and for probably 3/4 rides per week, I have the indoor all to myself no matter the time of day. I need to learn to share, it makes warmup rings hell when you only ever train in an empty ring, but OMG...it's nice.
ReplyDeleteI am the worst.
I wish i had an indoor to share
ReplyDeleteI'm with Amanda. I'll trade for an indoor.
ReplyDeleteYah I do NOT miss riding my nutty 4 year old in my old barn's tiny indoor amidst children playing beach ball polo. But he handled it surprisingly well, like you said- good bombproofing. Still, I can't wait for summer!
ReplyDeleteBeen here. At my last barn the trainer's toddler would hide IN THE MOUNTING BLOCK, and pop out RANDOMLY.
DeleteThe bombproofing going on at that place. Seriously.
I find that when there are a lot of people riding in the indoor, I usually ask if everyone wants to play follow the leader. This way everyone can do their own version of the exercise, but we all stay out of each others way and we sort of know where everyone else is going. And it's fun!
ReplyDeleteLol at "having a schedule"
ReplyDeletei'm pretty much constantly sharing our 100x200' arena (outdoor only, boo) with large-ish lessons of students with questionable steering and limited horse sense. generally when i get the idea that a rider might not be clear on some of these finer points, i just tell them to ignore me, keep doing their thing, and that *i* will avoid *them*. helps prevent those dicey games of chicken... sometimes. lol.
ReplyDeleteThis is our rule too. Lesson gets right of way, its our job to avoid the lesson horses regardless of what they're doing.
DeleteI miss having an indoor; I loved have that "ride rain or shine" mentality.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely had some "interesting" rides in the indoor- many bird nests, hot spooky Warmblood.
Having a schedule is the best advice ever! I feel your pain :)
ReplyDeleteYou know sharing an indoor with the right person makes all the difference. Some people are just horrible to share an indoor with (including some of the people I love the most!), and some people just make riding so easy. It is complex and humor is definitely important!
ReplyDeleteLeft to left only works if you aren't extremely dyslexic and minorly retarded. You have all been warned. My poor barn mates...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Austen. Left to left. I yell it sometimes when the indoor is crowded. Cause I am friendly like that...
ReplyDeleteWise words! I want to reach out and punch people who pass thisclose.
ReplyDeleteI am lucky that I make my own schedule and can avoid the busy times at the barn (most of the time... the week between xmas and NY was a disaster!) Communication is SO important. It's hard for me to share because I'm a spoiled princess who has always had her own barn/ring, but I find that it's a lot easier and more fun when people talk to each other while we're all in there.
ReplyDeleteTo tag into the Common Sense- common sense as a rider too! Left Shoulder to left shoulder- follow the general groups track etc! We are sharing a small indoor this winter!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the good old days of sharing an indoor with lots of people. I have been boarding at mostly small/private barns for the past 7+ years, but when I was at a lesson barn it could be pure insanity. Thankfully most people were great, but there were a few that could really ruin it for everybody in a hurry. I miss having people around, but I don't really miss the congestion either.
ReplyDelete