[imjustjoking22]

Ok, so my horse does not fit the "traditional" definition of arena sour, but I still think it fits. He will go willingly into the arena and work in it, but he does a number of things that he really doesn't do anywhere else. He bucks/kicks out in canter and occasionally the trot (not violent or anything bad enough to unseat me, but just fussing), he will randomly stop and need to be coaxed into going forward again, and will pin his ears and "bounce" in the trot (again sort of a random grumpy thing).

He has been adjusted by the chiro, is on a regular teeth-floating schedule, saddle fit is routinely evaluated- *plus* he does not do any of these things when not in the arena (except for the occasionally happy buck during a gallop or something like that).

I hack him outside of the arena usually before my ride and always afterwards. I frequently warm up in the field (as I did today, now that the footing is improving- he did not put a foot wrong w/t/c both directions, was soft and responsive).
We try to go out on the trails at least once/week, obviously not as much during crummy weather but I took him out 2x this week and he was still crabby in the arena.

I really try to vary our work- if he gets frustrated I will switch to something he can easily do well, and then go back and ask for a small improvement, then praise and stop for the day.

He gets frequent walk breaks (which is another problem- he thinks he is done after every walk break, ugh).


I am so frustrated- I feel like I am doing something wrong, and I *hate* to fight with him- but we do have to work in the arena the majority of the time- i just don't have that many other options!!

(Oh and I have also spent many days in the arena just playing around- doing a light bareback ride, game days, and just walking around- he is also very happy to stand in the middle of the arena and snooze).

In the back of my mind I feel like he might just be lazy and too smart to want to run in circles- he likes to be moving out in the open.

Any suggestions?