Doe, I really like these ideas. Can you give more examples of the sorts of activities along those lines which you do with your horses? And what would you do in the confines of a riding arena? The weather up this way is frequently not conducive to trail riding and I am sure many posters have various reasons why they can't or don't want to ride out, so exercises to make the arena less of a dreich place would probably be useful for many folk, including and especially the OP who feels everything she does with her horse is work.
Hi Silver - thanks.
Hmmm arena - good question - tricky to answer.
Thing is my point is about an approach not a method or exercises.
For example, one cannot make up for Time, Consistency and Purpose (TCP think i'll trademark that! Blast its an antiseptic so I can't :lol
Cowboys have a bad rep, and historically, thats probably justified. It certainly bears little relation to the Hollywood romantic image. However, there are many great (cowboy) horseman who work with their horses and treat them with respect. I've had the pleasure of meeting a few and I suspect from their posts that there's at least a couple I could mention on here.
They don't molly coddle the horses. They are not pets, but they still have, Time (lots of wet saddlepads and just time in general spent together), Consistency (the horse knows what its being asked and it is always asked the same way and Purpose (the horse knows its job, and can see why it is being asked to do things most of the time. Even the old school reining trainers used to train out on the trail, and use obstacles for circles etc etc.)
Compare that with many recreational riders (both hackers and competitors) Time (varies massively, may be an hour a day or an hour a week, Consistency (well both ways - often the only consistency is everytime the horse sees them its work. Their ridden skills and ground handling skills often dont match and theres little consistency in the relationship - dominant on the back but less so on the ground) and Purpose (the horse often sees no purpose to activities such as dressage or reining).
These things impact on the 'bond'.
So in answer to your question, my point is if recreational riders want a bond with their horse then think about what you can do that makes a horse want to be with you rather than its herd. (and I dont mean conditioning through NH groundwork) It varies from horse to horse just as their personalities do.
People talk of a willing partner - but what they mean is a willing slave (popular point that'll be im sure). Willing to do what they want when they want it. Thats fine if thats what you are after, but its exclusive from having a truly willing partner and 'soft' horse.
A soft horse comes from mutual respect and understanding. The reason I can reach horses so quickly is because I have no intention, other than to reach them. I don't care how we get there, I have no goal besides trust and leadership.
For some horses that is doing nothing. For some horses its play. For some horses its direction. I work with what they offer and what they need. That is how they come around to meeting me. I show them I am willing to meet them first. Its not an easy apple to swallow for many people especially when they see what they are paying for their horses, but it all depends on what you actually value most.
As example, I have gone to ride a horse and I can tell the horse really isnt up for it that day, so i'll shoot the breeze and do some other stuff. Other times Ive gone down to poo pick or whatever and a horse really wants to ride out - so we will. Or they are in a playful mood, so we play. It all accomplishes something positive. Even the play is physical and develops their collection and musculature, plus precise control and communication which then converts to their back.
Horses are domesticated - when we try for them, they will try doubly hard for us.
So thats the long answer to your question. Ie much of it is providing alternatives to the arena. However with the indoor arena in mind the principles are the same.
Time, consistency, purpose.