why does it have to be such a big deal?

Yup, that's the one I mean. Fair enough.

Ugh, the only time I rode in a western saddle trying out a little QH mare, I felt awful!

Well, I am going on the looks of the saddle, I have never rode with one. And an going on the looks of one compared to an western saddle and just like English saddles, western saddles come in diffeent styles.

I guess if you really like ring work, then go for it, but understand that you really will have to work harder to keep your horse focused and interested in her ring work; she may wind up totally sour of the ring work, and then what are you going to do? Just my two cents...ring work is fine, but ring work may eventually get boring, maybe not for you, but your horse.

They most likely want to include you and make you feel a part of the group even though you don't ride western. & who knows it'll maybe keep your horse from getting bored of the ring if you ride on the trials every once in a whilee.

I would go nuts in a ring. I spent alot of time there on jumpers in the 80's but now I couldn't spend a 1/2 hour without driving my self crazy.
I am a road runner. No bugs, usually good footing and where else can you get a 10 mile stretch to pick up a nice pace and just hold it?? I have had lots of horses afraid of cars but saturate them for a few weeks or months and they forget about them. If you have a good partner, one who protects you from danger it makes you and your horse more confident and suddenly those road runner aren't so bad.
As for trails once the bugs come out I avoid them. I also run the green belts in the city.

Although I mostly trail ride now, I used to do both ring and trail riding when I was younger and while riding in the ring can be rewarding, trail riding is just a nice change of pace. My QH *loved* the trails and it was much more of a bonding experience than ring riding was for us.

Wow, I didn't expect this thread to carry on for so long. I appreciated and enjoyed reading all your answers, guys, thanks! I think I'll give riding outside of the arena a try... but I can promise riding 90% of the time in the arena.

We are all different, I love ring riding and I enjoy it on Chinga but I have more fun messing around in the paddock with him. We seem "jerky" in an arena. But I love having my lessons with my instructor on him in an arena because I do enjoy that. But I can't see us riding in an arena every day.

They should accept a no from you, but I think it's good for the horse to be out and see something else than a fence once in a while.

But why are you posting in this forum? :P