Okay everyone, this is less of an informational/interview type blog than it is a commentary on a trend I have been noticing at recent shows. For anyone who has been showing horses for a long time, or just beginning for that matter, the hectic and often stressful experience of trying to warm-up before a class is a familiar one. Especially when the time for western pleasure rolls around, the warm-up pen can be an intimidating place. It is often a daunting experience to round the corner to the arena, only to be assaulted by a barrage of sequins or an onslaught of rhinestones as riders lope toward each other in opposite directions, stopping, turning, spinning, backing and jerking. It’s enough to make your head spin.
Now this is obviously something we can’t avoid, that is unless there were multiple warm-up pens all within equal distance to the show ring allowing for more than enough room for every exhibitor to prepare for their class. (If someone ever finds this magical show grounds please let me know) However, there are a few simple guidelines exhibitors can follow to help make the experience within the warm-up pen a much more positive, productive and safe one for all horses and riders involved.
Depending on each person’s experience level, age of their horse and trainer’s instructions, everyone goes into those last five minutes before show time with different priorities in mind. This often results in a scene akin to that of a psychotic carousel with horses going left and right, having repeated near miss collisions. You know what I’m talking about, the kind where you swerve just in time, but can’t avoid sideswiping the other person with your stirrup? Now I’m not saying I have never been guilty of this offense myself, because I have. My trainer has repeatedly accused me of using my horse like a bulldozer. But, I think that as a self-professed occasional “bad driver,” I have come to realize the importance of paying attention to where I am going.
As my trainer likes to say, or shout rather, “there’s no money on the ground, so look where you’re going,” or “even if you stare at its head long enough it’s not going to go where you want it to.”
So, I thought I would share a few of my own tips which help to minimize the number of head on collisions my horse and I are involved in. First, it is unavoidable that people are going to travel in different directions when they don’t have an announcer to guide them. Therefore, whenever possible, I try to “go with the flow,” of traffic that is. If everyone is going to the right, follow suit. More often than not the majority of the pack will decide when it is time to change directions. And please, it doesn’t help the situation to scream at the top of your lungs that you plan to change directions. (I have actually encountered this on more than one occasion). Generally, it just makes people mad enough that they will continue going the same way just to spite you. However, there is nothing wrong with politely asking a few people to join you in changing directions so everyone else might follow your lead.
Secondly, if you can reach out and touch fingertips with the person riding next to you, you are too close. There should be, at the very least, twice that distance between you and any other rider. I am aware that horses are pack animals and generally like other horses, but riding or passing someone that close is just asking for trouble. When in doubt, ride further away. This applies whether you are riding towards someone or traveling in the same direction. Unless your last name is Earnhardt you shouldn’t be passing that close.
When it comes to the number of people packed into a warm-up pen, less is always more. Please use common sense to help you decide when you need to head up to the pen. Probably ten classes before is a little excessive. I always follow this rule; if your class is going in before mine, you have priority. That means for rail space, choice of direction, etc. But, I do expect people to give me the same courtesy as well.
Now picture this scenario. Two riders are loping along on the rail in different directions as they get closer and closer, neither one is willing to relinquish their coveted rail spot. Sometimes I just sit back and watch as people go around and around “playing chicken” with every person they meet. Now if we were riding in bumper cars this might be great fun. However, I don’t think any horse appreciates being jerked to a halt when it comes nose to nose with another animal just because both pilots are being stubborn. I generally try to follow the “every other time” rule. If I get off the rail for you once, then the next time around you should get off the rail for me. Obviously this isn’t a perfect solution, but it seems to help minimize the chances of being in a head on collision. There are a few exceptions though. Always get off the rail for children and novice riders. If someone is having that much trouble getting around the pen, don’t make matters worse by hogging the rail just because you can.
Just think, if everyone followed these simple rules what a safer and less traumatic experience warming up before a class would be.
