How to Keep Your Horse From Getting Bored in the Arena.

Winter time is around the corner and you are probably wondering what you are going to do to keep your horses in shape, happy and willing over the winter months! Here are some exercises and suggestions to help.
Typically people ride the rail in the arena. Around to the left 4 times. Around to the right 4 times...walk, trot and canter. Three, four or more times a week...follow the rail to the left, follow the rail to the right...walk, trot, canter....You are feeling like "hurray! I rode my horse today!"
Well, have you ever wondered how your horse might be feeling about this routine you've so neatly set up for yourself? I say yourself simply because your horse would probably like to puke right about now. I don't mean to say that in a sarcastic way. But think about it. How are his gaits? Sluggish perhaps? Perhaps he has that glazed over look to his face? Are you constantly pushing him forward? His he heavy in the bridle? All these things are signs of boredom for your horse.
If you could try to become more imaginative in the arena you would have a better chance at keeping your horse interested in what you are doing. And guess what! You don't "have to have" obstacles to do this. They are nice, but you don't have to have them.
First understand that the true rail is between your reins and your legs. The rail that makes up the sides of the arena are simply the boundaries of the enclosure you chose to ride in.
Another thing we need to realize is that our legs play an important part of our riding. We will be riding the whole horse if we can learn to use our legs. Most riders I see, are pushing in their stirrups to keep their heels down. When pushing they end up pushing their legs out away from their horse, instead of letting your legs rest on his sides.
The reins guide the nose in the direction of travel. The nose, takes the neck, because if you tip the nose, the neck will arc appropriately. While our legs drive the horses body in the direction of travel. There are other factors here also, but for right now, lets focus the use of our reins and legs and how they work for the exercises below.
Your foot placement on your horses side, determines what body part the horse will move. Are you moving the front end? Your foot placement will be closer to the cinch. Are you wanting the ribs to wrap around your leg in an arc as if on a circle? Your foot placement will be somewhere in the middle of the horse's body. Are you wanting to move the hindquarters over? Your foot placement will be farther back on the rib cage. If were to ask me specifically where on the horse's body is your foot placement for each maneuver, I'd answer IT ALL DEPENDS. You will need to adjust your foot placement on your horse's side until your horse gets the message. Until he does what you are asking. Experiment and listen to your horse.
Ok, now you are more aware of your legs and how to use them. You understand the true rail is between your reins and your legs. Lets talk about the exercises in the arena now. To keep your horse alert and interested and participating in the arena vs. just going through the motions, we are going to ride circles, diamonds and squares. And....Not in any special order! Use your imagination. We all know what circles are. Make them big, small, spiral in and out. Squares, consist of straight lines and corners or turns. You can perform these turns using the the front end and the hind end in your corners. Your horse can make a turn performing a turn on the haunches or a turn on the forehand, yes, even at trot! Diamonds come after your circles and squares feel good. Don't rush your horse. A diamond is straight lines with the corner becoming a hairpin turn. Look behind you, over your shoulder, keep your chin up and bring your horse with you.
A couple simple rules to keep in mind.

*Keep your horse soft, if he gets upset or bracey go back to the gait he was soft in or the pattern he was soft in.
*These exercises are performed at walk and trot in both directions.
*At canter keep to one direction at a time. PLEASE do not canter until trot is soft and relaxed.
*Change it up, be imaginative. Ride a circle, then ride a square, then change the size of your circle and square. *Change the locations in the arena that you are riding these patterns.
*DON'T DRILL ANY ONE PATTE

*ONLY when your horse is soft, willing and quiet should you move on to the next gait or pattern.
*Don't forget to use your legs

By using these patterns above, your horse will become more in tune with you. He will put more effort into the riding session because it will engage his mind. Feel him liven up, becoming more confident and willing because it was fun for him too!

**HAVE FUN!! If you go at this with the "gotta git 'er dun" attitude, your horse will learn to hate this too.