Q: My horse gets really stressed whenever I work him in the arena. Do I push through it, or is there a way to help him relax?

A: Working in the arena is the most physically difficult thing a lot of horses do, so it is not unusual for them to take a dislike to being schooled there. This ‘dislike’ can present in a variety of ways, including being behind the leg, rushing or becoming tense or stressed.

For a stressed horse, it’s always worth going back to basics. Make sure you aren’t doing too much in the arena – a varied workload is key for building your horse’s strength as well as keeping him fresh and enjoying his work. Include plenty of hacking, polework and groundwork in his routine. With this extra variety, you can then stick to keeping things really easy in the arena. For example, stick to walk and trot in the arena if that helps keep him relaxed, and try not to push him too hard. Similarly, you can encourage him to stretch out and stay soft rather than asking for a more established outine, as this should make him feel good through his body and create positive associations with the arena.

By keeping the work easy, your horse will relax and enjoy his work without feeling under pressure to perform. This should improve his associations with the arena and over time you will be able to do more and more here.