SHOW
RING
ETIQUETTE
This
information
has been
put
together
to form
a
standard
to which
everyone
is
encouraged
to
follow.
You
will see
these
standards
being
followed
when
riding
in a
ring/group
situation
anywhere.
As
an
incentive
for
people
to
practice
better
ring
etiquette,
it will
be
included
in the
criteria
for the
Judge’s
Award.
Points
will be
awarded
by the
judge to
the
riders
of each
class
and
tallied
at the
end of
the day
for the
award.
TRAVELING
IN A
GROUP
Remember
the
number
3.
Whether
you are
just
traveling
in the
same
direction,
passing
in the
same
direction,
passing
the
opposite
direction,
or not
moving
at all 3
is your
optimum
number.
3
horses
lengths
from
nose to
tail or
3 horse
widths
from
shoulder
to
shoulder.
This
allows
each
horse
and
rider
room to
do their
own
thing
without
interfering
with
others.
For
example:
if
your
horse
spooks
at
something
and
you’ve
allowed
3 horse
lengths
to the
horse in
front of
you,
your
horse
has room
to move
with out
crashing
into the
horse in
front
and
potentially
getting
kicked.
Another
example:
‘On
Command’
class in
Ellis
River
Riders
open
shows.
This
is a
class
where
the
riders
are
asked to
halt
their
horses
at
random
points
through
out the
class.
If
your
horse
doesn’t
stop as
fast as
the
horse in
front of
you, you
have
time to
turn
your
horse
off of
the rail
and
complete
your
stop
with
your
horse in
a safer
place
than the
tail of
the
horse in
front of
you.
Again
prevent
the risk
of
getting
kicked.
Not
all
horses
like to
stand
still
all the
time and
if you
allow 3
horse
widths
between
your
horse’s
shoulder
and the
ones to
either
side of
you, you
allow
‘wiggle
room’
and time
to move
out of
the way
if
necessary.
PASSING
IN A
GROUP
Same
Direction:
When
coming
up
behind a
horse
that is
traveling
at a
slower
rate
than
yourself,
you need
to pass,
circle
or cut
across
the
ring.
It
is
important
to make
this
decision
while
you
still
have a
minimum
of 3
horse
lengths
between
your
horse
and the
horse in
front of
you.
This
will
prevent
the
potential
situation
of
kicking
by
either
horse.
If
the
decision
is to
pass
then you
must
allow
yourself
and your
horse
plenty
of room
as to
not
upset
the
horse in
front of
you. If
you pass
too
close,
even the
best-behaved
horses
can feel
threatened
and lash
out in
self-defense.
Move
your
horse
off the
rail
towards
the
center
of the
ring
while
you
still
have at
least 3
horse
lengths
between
you and
the
horse
being
passed.
Allow
at least
3 horse
widths
between
your
horse
and the
horse
being
passed.
A
way to
measure
this
distance
(prior
to
entering
the show
ring)
would be
to
extend
your arm
straight
out to
the side
with a
whip in
your
hand.
You
want to
make
sure
that the
end of
the whip
still
has
plenty
of
distance
between
it and
the
horse
next too
you.
Before
moving
your
horse
back too
the
rail,
make
sure
that
you’re
allowing
the
horse
you’ve
passed
enough
room.
Not
all
horses
are
kickers,
as some
prefer
to bite!
If
you move
back to
soon you
could
cut the
other
horse
off
enough
that
they are
forced
to break
gait.
Continue
to ride
past the
horse
until
you have
at least
3 horse
lengths
between
the tail
of your
horse
and the
nose of
the
horse
that you
just
passed.
Another
thing to
look for
is
whether
there is
room at
all for
your
horse.
You
may have
to pass
more
than one
horse to
find
your
spot.
If
there is
more
than one
horse in
front of
you
moving
slower
than
your
horse,
you
might
choose
to cut
across
the
ring.
Before
getting
closer
than 3
horse
lengths
to the
horse in
front of
you,
look
around
the ring
for an
opening
big
enough
to
accommodate
you
faster
moving
horse.
Once
one is
found,
plan
your
route.
You
don’t
want to
have a
near
miss
with the
judge;
it
won’t
look
good for
your
skills
as a
rider.
You
also
don’t
want to
have any
near
misses
with
other
horses.
Once
a clear
route is
decided
on, move
off the
rail
while
you
still
have the
3 horse
lengths
between
you and
the
horse in
front.
Travel
your
planned
route
and
before
moving
back
onto the
rail,
make
sure
that you
leave
the
horse
that you
are
about to
move in
front of
at least
3 horse
lengths
between
the tail
of your
horse
and the
nose of
the
horse
behind.
If
all the
horses
in the
ring
have
clustered
into a
group
you
might
decide
to do a
circle
and
utilize
the
empty
space
behind
your
horse.
Before
moving
off of
the
rail,
take
note of
where
the
judge is
and plan
your
circle.
Move
off of
the rail
and
begin
your
circle
while
you
still
have at
least 3
horse
lengths
between
your
horse
and the
horse in
front of
you.
Once
your
circle
is
completed
you will
arrive
back on
the rail
with
plenty
of room
for your
horse.
There
maybe
classes
where
there
are a
large
number
of
horses
in the
ring at
once and
finding
space is
difficult.
In
that
situation
you will
have to
do your
best to
not
crowd
the
horse in
front of
you by
carefully
controlling
the
speed of
your
horse
until an
opportunity
presents
itself
for you
to pass,
circle,
or move
across
the
ring.
If
you take
the time
to plan
your
routes
and pass
before
you have
ridden
up to
close
too the
horse in
front,
you will
show the
judge
that you
are a
competent
rider
who is
in
control
of
themselves
and
their
horse.
It
will
also
prevent
potentially
dangerous
situations
as even
the
best-behaved
horses
have bad
days.
When
passing
a horse
traveling
in the
opposite
direction,
no
matter
the
gait,
the
standard
rule is
“left
to
left”.
Keep
your
left
side to
their
left
side.
If
you are
both
traveling
on the
rail one
rider
would
automatically
move off
of the
rail
toward
the
center
of the
ring to
allow
the on
coming
horse to
pass on
their
left.
When
everyone
follows
the same
rule, it
eliminates
the game
of
chicken,
as the
rider
who
needs to
move has
been
pre-determined.