Turnout in school: Work vs Play & Horse Psychology

[Jill Crewe]

First time I rode my new horse in the school he went bronco and bucked me off (not looking for advice on why this may have happened as have dealt with a few issues/some still in the process of being investigated).

I really need to get back in there and do some schooling work (investigating fitting of saddle first) but it's made me a bit nervy, I am enlisting the help of a friend to do some long reining in there with him for now - (when I've tried lunging him in there with my OH he was very very spooky- horsey not OH )

So I'm thinking about turning him out in there every now and then so he can have a nose/play around and get used to it. But Pyschology wise would I be better making the school for work only? Thoughts please

 

[Shantara]

Well, we've got 7 ponies turned out in the school at all times and they know very well when it's play time (or turnout time) and when they must work So it can work!

 

[JFTDWS]

I've always turned out and free schooled in arenas, and mine understand the difference between play time and work, whether that be ridden, in hand or liberty work...

 

[Jill Crewe]

Yes I guess loads of people do it - I seem to have turned into a huge wussy wusser!!! Think it's because I had my old boy (RIP) for 16 years and now I've got a new one and he's had a few explosive episodes and I don't know him well enough to know what he's thinking! Think it will do him good to investigate the arena and get used to being in there either way