When Your Horse Hates Arena Work
Got a horse that loathes working in the arena? Maybe he’s ridden too many 20-meter circles in his lifetime. Or he’s just bored of going around the same fenced-in ring over and over and over again, that he’s now exhibiting some naughty behavior because of it.
It’s hard to blame the horse who gets bored in an arena. But for many of us, one arena is the only space we have to ride in. Here are some tips and tricks to try to mix it up for the bored or distracted horse.
Hack out more
One easy answer is try working your horse outside of the arena more often. Any field or turnout paddock will do. Trails are even better. Riding outside of the arena can be as structured as you want to make it – do trot sets down a wooded trail or focus on collection and extensions in a hilly field. This is obviously dependent on your barn situation – the winter time can make it harder to find opportunities to ride outside of the arena. But don’t be afraid to get creative – even some walk laps around the barn could help give your grumpy guy a fresh and fun perspective.
Mix up your workouts
Over-drilling can lead to boredom or angst. Your horse might be tired of working in the arena, but also doing the same maneuvers every time he’s in there. This is a great time to incorporate some cross-training. If you’re a dressage or predominantly flatwork focused rider, add in some small jumps, ground poles or cavalettis to your routine. If you’re a jumper, maybe experiment with some more complex flatwork, like lateral movements and variations of gaits. Don’t do the same thing twice in one week. See if keeping it fresh and unpredictable helps change your horse’s mindset over time.
Shorten your rides
One way to mix it up is to ride for shorter periods of time. You can ride as frequently as you always have or even over more days, but instead of riding for a full hour at a time, cut it to 30 minutes. See if shorter, but more productive rides helps him stay focused.
Be his therapist
It’s hard to know what to change about your riding routine if you don’t know what it is about arena work that is bothersome to your horse. Take some time to pinpoint the problem so you know how best to troubleshoot it. Could it be a physical problem and the vet needs to be involved? Is there something about the way you communicate with your horse in the ring versus out in a field or off property that he doesn’t like? Have a trainer or even a barn friend hop on your horse and see if he exhibits the same behavior in the ring. Perhaps you don’t need the spurs after all, or maybe he’d prefer you ride with a deeper seat.
Try something new
When a horse is starting to become sour, mixing it up can help change their mindset. This is a great time to dabble in something new. If you’re a hunter/jumper rider, why not make February a month dedicated to trying dressage. Or how about incorporating obstacles or more groundwork into your routine? Give you and your horse a brand new experience for a short period of time. Then come back to the regular arena work feeling refreshed and new.
Give him a break
Maybe it’s winter, and the dreaded indoor arena is your only option for ride time. If your rides together are no longer fun nor productive, maybe your horse just needs some time to a be a horse. If you’re in a training program, perhaps you can take some lessons on a different horse for a few weeks to keep you going, but give your horse a break.
Add more outings to the calendar
Another way to alleviate boredom is to leave the property altogether. If you have access to hop in the trailer and go somewhere new, do it. Go for a trail ride, haul out for a lesson or clinic. Go on a hunter pace, a foxhunt, a cross-country school. Even just a hack at a neighboring farm offers up some fresh scenery. Anything to give you and your horse a change of pace could help improve morale.