No Arena? No Problem... Riding Your Horse in Open Spaces and Still Improving

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

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2+ y ago 14:06

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Not having a designated space to ride in, like an arena, can often feel like a big disadvantage. If you have been riding in an open field or been confined to roads for any length of time, you'll probably know what I mean! However, while an arena does help with some aspects of riding, having no arena will also force you to think outside of the box.

And this literal 'out of the box' thinking when applied to your schooling can often be a big plus when it comes to riding your horse as well...

Arenas are wonderful to ride in, the surface is prepared for optimal performance, the rails and letters remove any guesswork when it comes to accuracy, shapes, and sizes. The centre line is exactly that - the centre line of the arena. X is always at the same place...

Having an arena allows you to focus entirely on the actual riding end of things - or does it?

While many riders see having no arena as a massive drawback and negative aspect of riding, there are a similar number of riders who will happily tell you the opposite. In fact, they often chat to anyone who will listen about how their riding improved tenfold once they got out of the arena; whether by choice or necessity.