| Each barn has its own personality, its very own unique | | | | and does handstands and summersaults for carrots, |
| feel. Some are friendlier than others. Some are fancy, | | | | please, please, please, walk on by. That horse could be |
| while others are more down home. Some house very | | | | on a special diet, he could have just been wormed, |
| serious competitors, and there are those who just | | | | treated with medication. He could be allergic. You don't |
| want to have fun. But across the board, the basics of | | | | know. His owner knows, and rightfully so. It's not your |
| barn behavior, barn etiquette if you will, is universal. | | | | horse. |
| When riding in an arena going the same direction as | | | | In certain barns, it's alright to give your horse extra hay. |
| another horse, let the person ahead of you know if | | | | Not anyone else's, just yours. The best thing to do if |
| you are going to pass to the inside or the outside, say | | | | you are finding that your horse doesn't have hay and |
| "inside" or "outside" and stick to it. Don't change your | | | | you hate leaving him or her that way is to talk to the |
| mind at the last second. The horse and rider in front of | | | | barn manager or owner. Ask them what time horses |
| you needs to rely on you to make the right choice. It's | | | | are hayed and how often, when is night check, when |
| hard to ride when you're looking over your shoulder. | | | | is water topped off? As a rule, horses are not always |
| When a horse is approaching you from the opposite | | | | going to have hay in their stalls, particularly the easy |
| direction, it's just like driving a car. That horse should | | | | keepers. They eat quickly and take a dream-filled nap |
| most always be on your left. Changing directions and | | | | in preparation for the next feeding. |
| reversing should be announced also. You don't have to | | | | If you do give your horse hay, be quiet about it. The |
| shout, just simply state the fact. Most often the other | | | | other horses are bound to get stirred up when they |
| riders will oblige. Let them know if you are going to | | | | see you blatantly serving up hay to your horse and not |
| school over jumps. There is nothing more annoying, not | | | | them. It is not acceptable in any barn that I know of to |
| to mention potentially dangerous, than having a horse | | | | hay your horse and then go hay everyone else's |
| and rider start taking jumps without advance warning. | | | | because you feel bad, now that you have them all riled |
| When entering and leaving the arena, say "Door" to let | | | | up. It goes back to not knowing each horse's needs. |
| others know you are entering and leaving; approach | | | | Again, check with the owner or barn manager. This |
| crossties with regard to the horse and rider. Horses | | | | applies even more so with grain. |
| can spook for seemingly no reason at all, don't give | | | | Do not borrow another person's tack, blankets, and |
| them excuses. | | | | turnout sheets, fly masks; fly spray, etc. without asking. |
| Clean up after your horse in the grooming area and | | | | Do not borrow grooming supplies such as hoof picks |
| crossties. Until that bridle is on, there is no reason to not | | | | and scissors without asking. Do not borrow grooming |
| do it right then and there. If your horse is completely | | | | brushes and combs, period. It's not good practice. Don't |
| tacked, it's a given you're not going to unbridle him and | | | | leave your horse's halter hooked to the crosstie. |
| put him back in a halter so you can clean up. Nor do | | | | Before you leave for the day, snap your horse's halter |
| you want to hook crossties to his bridle. Clean it up | | | | and lead shank together and hang it in the designated |
| when you finish riding. Chances are if it is a busy barn, | | | | area by his or her stall. In case of emergency or fire, |
| someone will go ahead and clean it up for you before | | | | this step-saving measure could possibly save your |
| grooming and tacking their horse. Thank them and | | | | horse's life. Post your contact information on the front |
| remember to return the favor. A boarding stable with | | | | of your horse's stall, including blacksmith and |
| horse owners that look out for one another is the best | | | | veterinarian's phone number. If you water your horse, |
| barn to be in. | | | | rewind the hose. If you pick out your horse's stall, |
| Thus said, this does not apply to giving treats to | | | | empty the muck basket and put the pitchfork away. |
| another person's horse. Do not, I repeat, do not | | | | Flush the toilet when you use it. Don't let things spoil in |
| assume it is okay to pass out carrots, apples, sugar | | | | the refrigerator. Don't get into barn gossip, nothing good |
| cubes, low-cal treats, or anything of the like. It is not | | | | will come of it. Turn out the lights. Close the gates and |
| your right. Let me say that again. It is not your right. It is | | | | doors. Be careful. Sound like home? It is your home; it's |
| wrong. If you have asked the owner's permission and | | | | your second home. It's where your horse lives and |
| it has been granted, that's a different thing. Aside from | | | | chances are you spend a lot of time there. Enjoy! |
| that, even if the horse is the best beggar in the world | | | | |