Question: Yesterday I was riding in the indoor when one of the lesson kids’ mom walked right in the ring with her DOG! No “Door!” or anything. She just walked right in without even looking. I had to pull up my 4-year-old to a halt. Luckily no one was hurt. She never even apologized, she just kept walking! I did say to her, “My horse could have hit your dog,” but she just looked at me and kept going. She’s been around the barn for at least two years, she should know better.

Answer: You’re right, she should know better. But sometimes moms forget, just like kids and dogs. I’m not excusing her behavior at all. Once you enter the barn, momness goes out the window, and responsible horse person has to kick in, or you shouldn’t be there.

Next time you see this person, pull her aside for a chat. Be friendly if you can and don’t scold, just reiterate the safety issue. “Erica, I just wanted to tell you how lucky we both were the other day that no one got hurt when you walked into the ring with Mia. The barn rule is to yell “Door!” and to look both ways before you enter the ring. If you don’t, the horses could spook, and a rider or horse could really get hurt, never mind the person and dog.” 

If she looks at you like you’re a nut job or doesn’t seem to understand the seriousness of what you’re saying, talk to her daughter’s trainer about the incident. Her luck—and yours—isn’t likely to last.

Send me your barn manners question, Elizabeth@sheridesipay.com

Has this happened at your barn? How did you handle it?

Elizabeth Howell grew up riding on the hunter/jumper circuit in Massachusetts. Now she is a horse show mom. She holds a day job at The Emily Post Institute and slings horse manure on the weekends.  Her web site is www.sheridesIpay.com.