Outdoor Horse Vs. Indoor Horse

[Excess]

Yesterday I went for a ride on my boy. It was what every ride should be like. We galloped across fields, went through water, just me and him. We saw hawks, foxes, and little chipmunks. We went up hills, down hills, over logs. It was just so peacefull and happy. Probably one of the best rides we've ever had.

It got me thinking though that he's more of an outdoor horse than an indoor horse. He definitely needs a job or something to do. In the arena I think he gets bored. I always like to twidle and work with stuff in the arena but there's some things that I just can't work on without him getting upset. In the arena he sometimes like to throw in a little buck or two. Out in the fields he's nice and smooth, collected, and relaxed. It makes me think maybe he likes a destination or something to do. I think if we had cows or something to work in an arena he'd be more of an indoor horse.

I'm sort of the same way though. I never was much of a person for riding in arenas. I grew up on a cattle ranch and always rode outside through fields and moving cows. I would go on all-day trail rides over all sorts of terrain.

It's amazing how much our horses are like us. I think Speedy gets bored in the arena like I do. Outdoors, doing SOMETHING even its just a leiseruly trail ride I can work on things that I try to work in the arena for hours or days and get it in just a few minutes.

This post is just another attempt of me trying to get into my horse's head.

[dale]

I have one of those. It's remarkable how one of my geldings becomes the incredible tripping horse in the arena and is slow as molasses, but get him out and about and not a single trip and his rides are a dream.
I'm doing much less arena work with him and saving any lessons for the trail. When we are are in the arena I bring out toys - jump standards, tires, pylons etc so that we have a job to do.
My other guys seem to go with the flow in either space...

[red]

Think of it like this....how much fun was it when you were little, and in the third grade, ..to go on a field trip? Going somewhere, new, and exciting, learning something in a new enviornment...and yes sometimes there were high jinx, and sometimes kids got over excited...but oh so content with the day...and everyone learned something...Same for the horse..the same old walls get boring, and sidepassing over a perfect pole, in a manicured arena, is nothing like tryin to side pass over a crooked fallen tree..like us, our horses tend to enjoy a walk outside...and how much more fun is it for us, when we have a happy pony? Opening a fake gate, or the arena gate, is nothing like opening that crickety old gate out side, all rusty hinged and droopy....now that takes finesse..and wading in the stream with cool water on your legs, with rocks sparkley just bellow the surface, is nothin like steppin in that puddle on the back side of the barn. And there is nothing like that last turn for home, when the barn lights are on, and you know you are going to have a manger full of hay, and a good rub down....sounds ideal? Well it is.

Like they say. Know your bliss.

[Mulie]

There are horses that PREFER the indoors?????

[FrancaV]

There are horses that PREFER the indoors?????I've heard people say they have horses that prefer it but I've never met one myself. I think they're a myth. ;)

[Weebonilass]

Actually, I have met a couple that preferred arena work. Of course, it may have been more due to their upbringing. Or perhaps simply a lack of confidence and they just felt safer in a fenced off arena.

[fionagirl]

I'd say my 2y-o is more focused indoors than out, but I think that has more to do with me than her! I suspect I'M more focused when we're inside and so am better about being creative and encouraging her to stay with me. I think I get more sloppy outside. Guess THAT's gotta' change!

[FrancaV]

I'd say my 2y-o is more focused indoors than out, but I think that has more to do with me than her! I suspect I'M more focused when we're inside and so am better about being creative and encouraging her to stay with me. I think I get more sloppy outside.I suspect it's nearly always about how focused the rider is. I notice a huge difference in my horse's concentration and "try" whenever we have a "job" to do. I know that has to do with my own ability to see a point to what we're doing and to be able to convey that to my horse. Creativity is key; if I can convince myself that what we're doing is interesting and has purpose then it's pretty easy to convince my horse as well. It doesn't really matter whether I'm in or out of the arena; I'm perfectly capable of flaking out anywhere, though I'm much better about keeping my head together than I used to be, LOL!

[fionagirl]

Creativity is key; if I can convince myself that what we're doing is interesting and has purpose then it's pretty easy to convince my horse as well.

This "creativity" may be the single hardest thing for me! That's where some of the great clinicians come in because through their observations and the connections they make they spark thinking and creativity.

[FrancaV]

This "creativity" may be the single hardest thing for me! That's where some of the great clinicians come in because through their observations and the connections they make they spark thinking and creativity.Agreed! Some days I swear I'm brain dead in the creativity dept. On those days (if there's no creative instructor around) it's probably best that I don't get on my horse. ;)

[NoBite]

For most of us, our horses are great recreation. Imagine our relationship if our horses thought we were great recreation for them!

I know there are times when we've been through a wet spell and the horses have been confined to our pastures when we hook up the truck and trailer the horses are at least as excited as we are to get off the property and go for a ride.

[Sue]

Mine are outside. One has never even seen a box stall, another has been in one once in 4 years. Another has been shown, but hates, hates, hates being stuck in a box stall, actually seems to prefer staying in the trailer. There is a huge difference between the colts raised outside and ones that are barn raised. "Outside" for them means mountain pasture, rocks, predators, natural forage, badger holes, snags, and the company of other horses or livestock.

They aren't just good with their feet, but a different seem to have a different mindset... more practical, able to solve problems, less stressed out by issues.

That being said, I HAVE known horses that were show horses their whole lives that are positively scared of the outside world. Perhaps its like the difference between city kids and ranch kids.

[Excess]

That being said, I HAVE known horses that were show horses their whole lives that are positively scared of the outside world. Perhaps its like the difference between city kids and ranch kids.


My horse before I got him was only kept outside and never in a stall. Now he spends most of his time outside but comes in at night. I think he likes it more. He is a real heavy sleeper and likes to lie down to sleep. I put him in pasture board for a bit and he didn't like it. I think he likes being able to come in, come to a space that's his, get fed, be able to sleep.

But when it comes to riding he doesn't like arena work. He likes to be outside. He is a very observant horse. He doesn't spook, but he likes to watch and see everything. You can see his little brain moving.