Foundation Training: Arena Exercises

By: Neil Pye

Horse lovers worldwide agree that the quality of your horse’s foundational training directly attributes to your success with horses. The development of a strong foundation in horsemanship depends on these four key learning areas: 

1. Ground Exercises
2. Arena Exercises
3. Outside Riding & Living
4. Purpose

In the second instalment of this series for Horsezone, we will be focusing on the second step: Arena Exercises (Read the first installment on Ground Exercises HERE)

Before we get on a horse’s back we establish a clear communication through a series of ground exercises. This is a powerful way of developing a strong relationship between the human and horse. Before moving onto arena exercises it is essential for us to have developed cooperation and leadership with our horses on the ground first.

To develop that trust we earned with our horses on the ground, we begin riding them in the safety of a small arena or round pen. Arena exercises allow you to connect what you did on the ground via halter and lead rope, to do the exact same thing except now from the top of the horse’s back. In the beginning, the smaller the arena or round pen, the safer you’ll be (consider this your classroom), as you and your horse get more confident the arena will gradually get bigger.

When you begin the arena exercises you’ll practise step by step strategies to make sure the horse can follow a feel, yield his hindquarters, and understand to move his front legs, just like you practiced on the ground. At this second stage of foundation training, we will get you to be proficient at a series of sequential exercises, such as follow a rail, bow tie, figure of eight, question box, and many more. It’s not going to be award-winning riding, but it is about building a language of foundation that will lay the platform so that one day, when your horse is ready, you can achieve your goals.

Arena exercises are an important part of building upon and nurturing your relationship with your horse. Arena training will allow positive patterns to develop between horse and rider with exercises and skills developed requiring participation and understanding by both parties we set up the partnership for long term success. In days gone by the solution was more to send off the horse to the trainer to fix. The trainer will get them going but when the horse is handed back to us we need to understand what the horse’s learned and why. Without that knowledge or understanding it will unravel all over again.

In the safety of an arena we build a language which is to communicate to our horse to go, to stop, to turn, speed up, to slow, and ‘what to do’ if it goes wrong, then know what is needed to help the horse find relaxation again. These exercises allows us to learn as ‘rider - guider’ how to become a good leader when in the saddle! This stage of the foundational training is a big step from ground work. You now have to be able to manage their emotions, manage their movements, and manage your emotions if your horse gets scared when being ridden. Gradually these skills will improve and as you progress your horse will grow in confidence this includes going through narrow gaps and obstacles, as you prepare for life outside of the arena.

In the next article we’ll talk about how we build upon ground and arena exercises to progress to the third step which is outside riding. A strong foundation is the key to success in all equestrian endeavours, whether your purpose is; dressage, show jumping, eventing, campdrafting, polo cross or having a relaxing and enjoyable trail ride. Your investment of time in your horse’s foundation will definitely pay off!

To see how you can gain more fun and enjoyment from your time with your horse, come witness the thrills and excitement of cutting edge horse behaviour strategies that are helping all facets of the horse world.

See Pat Parelli & Linda Parelli on their 2015 Australian Tour this November, for more information visit www.parelliaustraliatour.com or call  FREE180 0 460 988 today.