For those that have an arena at their house, what expectations do you have when someone comes over to ride? I have an arena that I do not use for commercial use and I very seldomly have people come ride with me, however, the few times I have had people come and ride I have always had bad experiences. Maybe my expectations are too high? And to preface, these are people who ask to ride at my house. They are not people that I have invited.

These are my expectations

• Clean up after yourself.
• Help put barrels and poles out if you are going to use them and put them back after your done.
• Be respectful of the time boundaries I put up.
• If you ask me to water and rake the arena, then you better offer to at least help with the diesal it takes to do that.

Am I crazy? These are all things that my family have taught me growing up as a common courtesy but it does not seem to be so common anymore. Also, I did not charge these people to ride in my arena. It was free. Which makes it even more frusterating when they just watch me do all of the work. It also just feels like rubbing salt in the wound when the only time these people hit me up is to ride in my arena. Other than that, crickets. 

Needless to say, they have not been allowed back.

Your not out of line. 

But before you say yes to them. 

You need to lay the ground rules down point blank. 

Then you will get along well with them all.

There will not be a argument when they don't get to come back when the rules are not followed. 

Charge those people and make it worth  your while.  We went and tried a horse out of state, we moved everything out of the way and drug when finished.  The folks selling the horse left them a $100 check, which we did buy the horse.  

I'm not saying thats the norm, but if they're not friends I would charge.

after years of having people at the house 3-5 nights a week either working barrel horses or roping steers they expectations were they helped clean up, they helped drag and put the stuff away afterward and the guys that were roping would bring a bag or two of cubes every so oftern. 



Most did it with no issue at all. The ones that didn't, weren't invited back

We have an arena and there is a very small group that ropes with us.  Thankfully they are close friends that are very respectful.  They all offer money.  We always decline, so most show up with a 30 pack or a sack of steer feed every so often.  

It's "invite only" for a reason.  If you don't enjoy them coming, don't invite them/allow them back.  We do have a chute with an automatic opener and every so often the hubby and I have a practice night just the two of us. 

The biggest problem we see locally is there are too many people that want to "rope" and not enough people that want to practice.  That's why we finally built our own arena.  If you don't go into it with a game plan it's just wasted runs on you, your horse, and your steers.  Kind of like just running  your horse through the pattern over and over for the hell of it. 

Your expectations are more conveninet for them than mine would be. Whatever you expect of them, make sure you lay it all out before you say yes. Also, I would definately be charging if they are not close friends.

Not crazy at all. I am one that doesnt have an arena at home so i have to haul to ride in one. I have 2 usual places i go. One is my trainers, the other is a local arena that hosts races. My trainers I dont pay but i have payed lessons in the past plus i help her out in exhange for tips on my horses. (i do always offer money but i usually end up helping her with her own horses or videoing training horses or bring beer) The other local arena I always put things back if we take them out and make sure the spot is clean. And never ask him to drag. Both places i am extremely grateful to use. 

Common decency goes a long way and not many people have it. 

When I go ride places (that I PAY to ride at), I put things back where I found them and clean up after myself.

It is true that most people do not do this. You cannot beat common sense and courtesy into people.

Either they follow the rules of your facility or they don't come back. Period.