Make riding varied

Spending time with your horse is, at its best, a chance to relax and have fun. But how does this fun come about? And what options are there to ensure that riding and ground work don't end up in a never-ending loop that sooner or later leads to boredom? It's simple. You need to plan wisely.

There are no limits to your creativity when it comes to planning different activities and types of training with your horse. Below are a few examples of how you could structure your work with your horse:

• Horseback riding is at the top of the list – feel the wind in your hair and enjoy the beautiful landscape together.
• You could expand on this by loading your horse into a trailer from time to time and driving to an even more beautiful place for a long trail ride. The advantage of this is that you also get some loading training in.
• Of course, you can also do this on foot: you lead the horse instead of riding it. This exercise is particularly good for horses that are easily spooked and need to work on their composure.
• For riders with jumping or even dressage ambitions, fields, woods, and meadows can also be great places to train. Here you can jump over small tree trunks with your horse, march uphill and downhill, or practice flying changes on stubble fields.
• Riding in a small group can be a lot of fun, not only because the riders can chat with each other, but also because the horses have a different dynamic in the new group.
• Search and orientation rides also offer a nice change of pace. These involve a route through the countryside with various stations testing skill and team spirit. The fun factor is certainly not neglected here.
• Things can also get colorful in the indoor arena. Build a small obstacle course out of different poles for jumping over or running through.
• Fluttering ribbons, tarpaulins, cones... these give your horse a kind of playground with plenty of variety. It's up to you to design the course so that the level of difficulty always ensures enjoyment.
• In between, you can also keep it simple and work on your horse's responsiveness. Ride a training session full of transitions: trot, walk, canter, trot, maybe even canter-walk?
• If you feel like working on your seat, you can take up the lunge and work on your seat exercises on your horse.
• Or simply take your horse on the lunge and work it on a long rein or even on double lunge.
• In a securely fenced area, you can try your hand at liberty dressage and work on circus tricks with your horse. Whether it's compliments, sitting or lying down, there are no limits to your creativity.
• Every child who rides has tried it at least once: riding without a saddle. This can also be fun and enjoyable, perhaps even with the aim of riding a few proper figures and making it look easy.
• Try it without a bit – this is also an interesting variation, but you can still achieve a harmonious picture with your horse by giving the correct aids.
• A more challenging variation could be riding with a neck ring. It is advisable to start slowly and only add the neck ring to the normal bridle, then gradually condition the horse to riding with the neck ring. Caution and careful work are required here, because if riding with a neck ring gets out of control, it can be dangerous.
• Are you familiar with Mr. Geitner's dual activation? Working with this method is said to better connect the right and left sides of the horse's brain, making nervous horses calmer and inattentive horses more focused. It's an exciting idea that can be used in riding and ground work to add variety.
• Healthy riding, perhaps with Tellington body bands. Here, the horse is literally "wrapped up" and certain points on its body are stimulated.
• If you can afford it and want to, you can work towards specific goals in your area of riding with regular lessons from a riding instructor. Training once a week or every two weeks under the supervision of a professional can always provide new impetus and challenge not only your horse but probably you as well.
• For those who don't yet know exactly what their riding discipline is, experimenting can be wonderful! Try out a Western saddle or working equitation – just try whatever you enjoy! Always be guided by your horse's abilities.