[gratifite]

I'm getting very frustrated I have an arena, not huge, but nice sized....big enough to comfortably lope long circles, figure eights, etc. My problem, Graphite won't do it. My other 3 horses (2 bigger, 1 smaller) have no problems sticking to the outside of the arena and loping circles. Graphite (a) doesn't pick up a lope in the arena very willingly (b) cuts in hard (c) will start to buck after about a lap and a half. I know it isn't health, tack, etc issues. When we're outside of the arena, he'll lope a straight-away or large circles just fine. I need advice on keeping him going and keeping him to the outside. Any suggestions?

[gratifite]

I'm desperate for ideas so please speak up.

[Bernardo]

Maybe its you triggering it? Maybe you aren't asking him the same way. Personally I'd just work him through it and teach him its not okay to act that way inside.

Some horses are better outside then inside or vice versa.

[pippy]

Anotherway would be to go to outside of the arena and work on small circles and figure 8's out there before bringing them into the arena, he could be a bit too unbalanced to cope with the tighter work required.

Is the arena railed/walled - he might not like working on a rail - much better than one that leans on the rail i'll tell you lol.

If you already do small circles out of the arena i can't really help sorry only agree with what was posted by someone else about you causing it or just riding him through it.

Whats he like in the other paces?

[gratifite]

He goes well at a walk and a trot. The arena isn't "intimidating" ... the ends are just panels w/ the long sides rope. What puzzles me is that earlier in the summer, we'd do circles, figure eights, the whole nine yards. It's just recently that we've developed "issues".

[pippy]

Are you able to get a lesson in the arena - it does tend to sound like it may be you causing it then, maybe collapsing a hip to the inside or leaning which will put the horse off balance and he might not be liking that??

Or that there coudl be a health issue there that you are unaware. I'm a biggie on balance if you haven't noticed () so if you think he is balanced doing the work (because he has already done it before) and that you aren't unbalancing and its not him being just a bit cheeky to avoid faster/harder work it might pay to look further into his back and/or saddle. You could give him a few more rides to settle then delve deepre - oh have you lunged him in there before you ride also -may help relax him if you can canter him on lunge before you do it on board? just my thoughts anyway

[horseguy]

There is not enough information about the horse to offer an opinion. How old, what experience? How long have you had the horse? What did it do before? What's your riding experience?

[Bruce Wiley]

Hi,
You mention... he was doing fine at first.
Now, he isn't willing to pick up the lope.
He cuts across the arena.
He will start to buck after a lap, or so.
You also mention,when he is outside of the arena, he perform his tasks fine & you want advice, tips on keeping him going on the outside.

Lets start off this way, without some of the most important information.
The horse's age, riding discipline, his foundation training in the beginning, any changes in his diet, or feed, any mishaps with the both of you, like falling, crashing, bumping the sides of a fence, any barriers, objects.
Next consideration, or questions are about your riding education, experiences and info on your pass, or present riding instructor.

There's something, the real cause which has triggered the change.
Sometimes its a change in his feed.
New enviroment, or the horse has become sour to the riding routine, which would explain why he is OK outside of the arena, or on trail.
Other causes:
Horse lack proper training.
Rider errors & confusion.
Horse has lost the respect for his rider/leader.
The rider isn't proactive with clear dirrection.
One, or all of these could also be the cause.
My tip, suggestion would be to re establish everything, leaving no stone unturn.

I hope this helps.

[cloverleaffarm]

Without knowing anything much about the horse, does he stay with the other two horses, if so he might just be one that will try you when he is away from them, I have seen that before and if so you just need to keep up what you are doing and ride him through that to let him know that he can't act like that when he is away from the other horses. I have seen that a lot with horses, they just get mad because they are alone.

[Rosie12]

I know you said it was no health problems, but that's what it sounds like to me. If he did it all before and he's not doing it now but it's only certain things...Just spitballing here, but it could be a problem in his leg/shoulder/neck.

You said what it wasn't but you didn't say how long it had been since those have been checked. Maybe something happened when you weren't around and has gotten worse and worse without you realizing it.