Rider Insider: Barn Rules

When riding in the arena, pass left shoulder to left shoulder.

If you borrow it, put it back.

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Don’t feed fingers to the horses.

Regardless of whether you ride at a commercial megastable or just keep a few horses in your backyard, your barn undoubtedly has a few rules. Horses can be dangerous to inexperienced humans, and humans can certainly be dangerous to horses, and many standard barn rules are in place to protect one species from the other.

Other barn guidelines are there with the aim of keeping peace between human members of the barn family. Standards for how the arenas, wash racks and tack rooms are maintained can stop disagreements before they happen.

And then, there are the list of things that should be common sense but become official just to make sure everyone remembers. No smoking in the barn area. Helmets must be worn when mounted. Don’t use other people’s stuff without their permission.

Beyond these standard regulations, what rules do you have at your farm—or what have you seen at other barns you’ve visited—that are unique, important or possibly have a good story behind them? Have you encountered any rules at other people’s stables that leave you scratching your head (or running for the barn door)? Click “Submit a Comment” below to share your story. Some responses may be selected to be published in a future issue of Horse Illustrated!

Throughout 2013, Noble Equine will be sponsoring the Rider Insider column in Horse Illustrated with a prize for the selected featured response. If you’d like to be considered for a prize, make sure to include your contact info in the email field of the contact form (emails will not be publicly displayed.)

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View Comments

Leslie says:
July 23, 2013 at 5:58 am
At my barn we have a sign that says ride at your own risk. It is very true because you never know what is going to happen.
Leslie says:
July 23, 2013 at 6:00 am
At my barn we have a sign that says ride at your own risk. It is very true because you never know what is going to happen.
kygal says:
July 23, 2013 at 3:44 pm
I keep my horses at home my rule is my barn my rules (liable to change at any time)
Stephanie says:
July 23, 2013 at 4:05 pm
NO RUNNING: I keep my horses in our backyard and I have a lot of younger siblings that like to run around. Even though my two mares are pretty calm and used to the running and screaming, anything could spook them at anytime. So to keep horses and people safe everyone has to walk calmly when they're in horse territory.
Isabella says:
July 23, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Have a good moral. Be kind, no lying, no swearing, etc. But most importantly, be truthful! I love all of the people at my barn because we all try to be truthful to one-another, no matter what. I have seen first hand the consequences of one little lie loosing a boarder or a horse, or even a friend. So I think that if I had to pick one rule, It would have to be honesty above all others, no matter what!
Elizabeth says:
July 24, 2013 at 4:12 pm
No Halter Tops!
Donna Lee says:
July 25, 2013 at 3:42 am
Don't forget to check the gate and turn off the lights....
Genta says:
July 26, 2013 at 9:39 am
No Horseplay unless you have four legs!!
Nancy says:
July 26, 2013 at 10:09 am
My horse boards at a meticulously well kept stable with about 20 horses. One of the rules is that all equipment such as poles, cones and mounting blocks must be put back on the grass around the arena when we are done riding. We don't mind this rule because it enables our owner to drag the arena nearly every day and we love having such a great footing to ride our horses on. We also have specific hours for jumping so those who don't like to ride then can chose not to. Everyone knows what to expect and is happy.
Brittany says:
July 26, 2013 at 11:14 am
No helmet? No riding.
Always take care of the horses first.
Clean up after yourself AND your horse
Safety first