Transitioning to a new barn, or starting fresh as the new kid on the mounting block can be both exciting and still a slightly nerve-wracking experience—regardless of your age, discipline, or time spent in the saddle. The desire to forge connections, build a supportive community, and cultivate a positive atmosphere in a place where you’ll invest a significant amount of your time is universal.

While every barn has its unique set of rules, generally crafted to ensure everyone’s safety and operational harmony, the specifics often differ from one barn to another. Having walked numerous barn aisles in my equestrian lifetime, I’ve gleaned these two undeniable truths:

1. Every barn has a different way of doing things
2. Each one of them thinks their way is the best way (and the right way)

Yet, beyond these barn rules we find posted on every arena door, grooming stall and tack room wall, lies a realm equally crucial barn etiquette, common courtesies, and best practices that seasoned horse people inherently understand and abide by. For newcomers to the barn, these subtleties may remain elusive until an inadvertent misstep occurs or an unforeseen farm faux pas is committed.

In a bid to spare you the blushes of unintentional barn misdemeanors, I’ve compiled a list of universally acknowledged best practices. These insights aim to be your compass in navigating the web of barn etiquette, ensuring you integrate seamlessly into your new barn community.

In the cross-ties:

1. Always sweep up after your horse before and after your ride. Never leave a cross-tie with shavings or poop.
2. Keep your belongings tidy;
   • Brushes in your grooming box
   • Hang your blanket on a hook or leave it back in your stall
   • Keep your tack hung neatly on a tack hook and/or saddle rack
3. Never leave your halter hanging on the cross-tie when you put on your bridle.
   • I have to say, this one especially makes the Pony Clubber in me cringe and seems to be one of the biggest shared pet peeves among horse people. It’s not only dangerous but leaves your halter hanging there for the next person to find a place for when they come in to use the grooming stall.
4. When you’re done, put your horse away promptly. Someone may be waiting for that grooming stall.
5. Don’t dilly-dally in the wash rack, your horse can dry, or be towel dried in the cross ties.

In the arena:

1. Calling “door!” as you approach an arena door and waiting for a response before opening said door or entering is universal. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong defaulting to this safety protocol.
2. If you use poles or set up an exercise of your own, put everything away when you’re finished.
3. People riding in a lesson have the right of way. Pay close attention to what they are being asked to do (the course, the exercise etc.) and stay out of their way. If you need to stand in a corner, or in the middle to ensure you’re not in the way this may be the best option.
4. Always pass left-to-left. This means if you are riding with someone else in the ring, and you’re going in opposite directions, when approaching each other head on, you move to pass your left side by their left side. To simplify – just remember which is your left hand and put them on that side. This is universal throughout the horse world. It’s like the rules of the road when driving, it’s how everyone knows how not to run into each other.
5. If you’re riding during someone’s lesson; don’t stand your horse in the trainers direct line of sight.
6. If a horse in the ring is having a hard time, is super fresh, being a bit feisty or the rider is working through an issue, give them space and maybe even take that time to walk. It’s not helpful to have your horse cantering right up behind them as they work through something.
7. Don’t interrupt someone’s lesson (or even their turn in a group lesson) with all your questions or chit-chat with the trainer.  
8. Don’t share or post video of someone falling off, making mistakes or working through an issue with their horse. These learning moments are for ourselves, not the world.
9. Pick up after your horse when you’re done riding before you leave the arena.
10. Turn off the lights!

In the barn:

1. Keeping stall doors closed, especially swinging doors (vs sliding ones).
2. If you are scheduling your vet or farrier appointments (but let’s be honest, none of us have that much control over when our vets or farriers arrive) some barns may be sensitive to when those appointments happen. If there is limited space, it may be difficult to feed or do turn in/out with your horse being examined or getting their feet done. If possible, give this some consideration.
3. Common areas are everyone’s responsibility. Sweep the aisles and the entrance to the arena.
4. If you open it, close it (stall doors, arena doors, gates, tack room doors).
5. No gossip! Not about other riders, not about their horses, not about the trainer or the barn staff, not what you think the vet was out about, not the bad lesson you saw the other day. Remember, when you gossip, you’re the only one that looks bad.

In the tack room:

1. This is usually shared space; keep your belongings tidy and in your locker avoiding spreading out and overwhelming a common area.
2. Keep treats in an airtight container as to not attract mice and other pests.
3. Always clean a piece of tack or equipment you borrowed before returning it.
4. Label everything! So much horse stuff looks the same, from blankets to girths, get your name on everything and avoid frustration and some awkward conversations when you spot someone with a similar item.
5. No gossip. This one is worth repeating.

So there you have it. A few simple guidelines to help your transition to a new barn a smooth one. Happy riding everyone! See you at the barn!