How much is too much? (Arena Riding)

How much is too much to ride a horse in an enclosed area?

I don't want to sour her, and I'm REALLY big on trail riding every horse no matter what, but not by myself with this particular horse.

If I keep mixing things up, and try new things will she stay happy. I don't want to sour her.

Nearly every time I ride her? Is that too much?

It really depends on the horse and if you are challengeing his mind and body in the arena. I have seen horses go a little crazy because they are ridden in the arena 5 days a week, then I have seen horses that are always ridden in the arena, (trail ride every 3 months) and they are fine. :)

As ridergirl said, it depends on the horse. Some horses can be ridden constantly in an arena and not become sour, others will have two rides and get sour.
I like to work mine about 3-4 days a week in the arena doing flat work (mixing the flat work up of course, not just riding around in circles doing the same thing every day!) and then go on maybe one or two ride outs along the road or through the paddock. However I don't allow my horse to just 'slop along' on a trail, they are still marching actively in walk and I'll practice a little leg yield or lateral movements along the way.
I also like to incorporate trot poles in the mix, it gives them something different to think about and is a fabulous gymnastic exercise which will stretch the hind quarters, back and thus help to develop greater flexibility and generate muscle.

You should be able to do it just fine, however you can't continuously d othe same excersizes. You will need to do something new everyday.
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Ok, thanks everyone.

I think she'll be ok then... And she will still go out on the trails (some months more or less) and around the yard, just no trails when I'm by myself. Just to be safe.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but can someone explain to me what sour actually means? I am curious because I ride a lot in our ring, and sometimes he gets resistant. I am wondering if that is what you mean by sour.

And yes, I change things up...poles, walking up and down hills, ship him to other farms sometime for a change of scenery.

I wonder, however, if some of my issues are due to being sour. If other horses are there, does that help?