TIPS TO MAKE OUR COMPETITIONS FUN FOR EVERYONE
- ARRIVING AND PARKING: Please remember our parking area is in our warm up area - drive slowly and carefully - horses tied to floats and trucks and especially those being warmed up and/or mounted may not appreciate you rattling past - you don’t want to be responsible for causing an accident. If there is a speed limit posted on the gate at the entrance please obey it - but remember it is not a target and will more than likely not be an appropriate speed for driving through the warm up area, slower is always better.
- Floats must ALWAYS have a vehicle attached if a horse is tied to the float No exceptions to this one, we want everyone to be safe.
- Floats and trucks must not be parked on the road or in the area around the motorhome /caravan park or by the office
- Please pick up all manure and hay around your float and put it in the skips provided (generally one by the stables and one at the end of the yards). Nobody wants to be paying more ground fees and this is helped if everyone does their tidy up.
- HORSE ACCOMMODATION: Stables are allocated, yards are generally pick your own . If you are booking a stable and have special requirements (especially stallions) please advise when entering, we will try (but no guarantees) to help you.
- NON COMPETING HORSES MUST have apprvoal from either the secretary or president to be on the ground and must have paid a ground fee. Please don’t assume you can turn up with a horse who is not entered and pay a ground fee,
- ARENAS: Remember you must stay 10 m away from arenas. Please show some consideration to horses competing in the next arena when you are going around your arena prior to entering - extended canter toward a young or nervous horse in the next arena doesn’t make for a pleasant ride, stay close to your own arena if the next horse is on the same side as you.
- ARENA FAMILIARISATION: If this is going to happen it will be advertised in the programme and stewarded. Remember you must have your numbers on, whether or not your horse is registered.
- ID TAGS AND NUMBERS must be worn on the horse AT ALL TIMES whether ridden, tied to the float/truck, in a yard or stable or in hand. This is a safety issue and a Dressage NZ rule. If you don’t have a tag these can be purchased from the office on the day of competition.
- LUNGING - is to be done only in the “Mill Creek” paddock - warm up space can be limited, so to be fair and safe, if you wish to lunge your horse please go through to the Mill Creek area.
- STEWARDS: Most of our tournaments will be stewarded. Our Stewards are ESNZ appointed. Their role is to help and advise in the first instance and they are more than happy to be approached with your questions regarding rules, tack and protocol. Please realise our local stewards are also riders, show them some consideration if they are preparing to ride. If you have a concern regarding horse welfare these people are happy to hear from you.
Warm Up Arena Etiquette
Sometimes, surviving the warm up arena can be more difficult than getting through your test!
Busy periods require “arena etiquette” to ensure everyone has a safe, stress-free warm up.
Here are some guidelines to keep in mind next time you find yourself in the warmup arena.
LOOK UP !Many riders are so focused on their own horse – watching their neck and head –
they forget to look around. Awareness of other horses and riders around you is crucial if
you want to avoid accidents (or the odd word of abuse!).
Does your horse need brakelights? Don’t stop suddenly without being aware of who is
behind you. If you need to stop to adjust equipment or dismount, move to the centre of the
warm up arena or exit the warm up arena. If you do accidentally happen to cut someone off
or force them to halt, a quick “sorry!” is polite.
LUNGING Try to stay as far as possible from other horses if you’re lunging. Keep to the outskirts
of the warm up area, or the designated lunging area if one exists.
COACHING/LESSONSIf a coach is warming you up, make sure they are standing on the edge
of the area, not in the middle. Make sure your coach is discrete! Shouting across the arena
may provide others with a free lesson, but they may not appreciate it at the time!
KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN! Remember that the sounds you may make (clicking,
growling or whatever!) may help your horse, but may not help another rider whose
horse may not react the same way.
LEFT SHOULDER TO LEFT SHOULDER When you and another rider are
approaching head on, stay on the “right side of the road”, with your left shoulder
toward the approaching rider’s left shoulder. If you’re walking or doing slow work,
keep to the inside track/centre of the arena.
KEEPING A DISTANCE In a busy warm up arena, it’s difficult to do, but try to avoid
riding too close to another horse. Particularly when passing from behind; the horse
you are passing may feel threatened and decide to kick or panic and run off.
Many horses get upset when another horse crowds its space. Just use your
common sense – don’t ride up another horse’s rear end don’t pass too close –
we’re not playing dodgem cars!
MISBEHAVING HORSES If your horse is having “behavioural problems”, please move
to the edge of the arena so as not to upset other horses. Likewise, if you see
horse misbehaving, stay away and if you have to ride near it, do so quietly. If a rider
falls off or there is a loose horse, you should halt until the situation is under control. A horse may be requested to leave the warm up area by a steward if it is considered
it’s behaviour is disruptive to other combinations.