Despite the preference of most riders still going to a closed arena, training your horse on a trail ride is extremely valuable.

Why train in an arena?

When you actually start training with your horse and focus on improvement or learning something new, it is important to choose where you will train.

An enclosed space is ideal when you want to train your horse loose for the first time, for example. In addition, a closed arena often gives a "safe" feeling, allowing many people, and therefore also horses, to relax more. Training in an arena also has the advantage that you can often influence the ground, creating optimal training conditions.

However, not everything can be trained in an arena, and for the variety and mental well-being of your horse, it is good to occasionally move your training elsewhere.

Benefits of training on a trail ride

A trail ride is often seen as an "outing". Enjoying a ride with a group or alone with your horse. Just relaxing while your horse happily walks forward with its ears forward, looking around. Where a startle reaction from your horse in the arena often leads to tension, a startle reaction in the woods, for example from a passing dog, doesn't matter and relaxation quickly returns.

On a trail ride, things can also be exciting, especially if you have a horse that is not familiar with it. That is precisely why it is good to go on a trail ride. You can train an infinite number of things outside.

There are a few points that you automatically train:

• Mindset
• Flexibility in focus
• Relaxation
• Better balance
• Interest

Is your horse having trouble with bending? Find a forest with easy winding paths. Is it difficult for your horse to step under properly, but does your horse not have physical problems? See if you can find a place with gentle hills. Is your horse ready? Then you can even do the exercises on a trail ride that are required in a test, for example. By asking in a different place, without it being mandatory, you ensure more relaxation. If it doesn't go well, no problem, you have the whole way to try again. In addition, your horse often does not have the support of an arena wall, making it easier to discover what still needs to be trained.

Outside, you can also train more easily on strength, speed, and flexibility in the body because the environment demands it from both of you. This means that training outside is never a one-sided activity. One-sided training can lead to insufficient muscle recovery or wear and tear because you always engage the same body part. Even if you have trained in a closed arena, you can choose to go on a trail ride afterwards. By changing the environment, you ensure that your horse remains interested. You can imagine that doing the same round every time can get boring over time. Have you ridden indoors? Take a walk outside during the cool down, fresh air is good for both a human and a horse.

By changing the environment, your horse often becomes more attentive, which also means that you need to be actively thinking about your horse. It helps you to get back into the 'here and now'.

Conclusion: alternate arena training with trail riding!

If you have the opportunity, go for it! Cross that threshold and enjoy an alert horse, nature, and camaraderie. Choose a different trail ride than usual. Do you always go to the forest? Then go to the beach this time, or maybe through the village. Always, ALWAYS consider the safety of yourself, your horse, and others. If you are going out, make sure you know the traffic rules!

By implementing changes in your training environment, you can ensure that your horse becomes eager to work again and that you can put the finishing touch on your training. This way, you can also get so much more energy and happiness from the training.