Is the horse as "lazy" to listen and lacks drive also when you ride out on the trail? If not, consider riding dressage out on the trail instead for a while. You could also do the warm up in the arena then surprise your horse with riding out. If you suspect your horse is bored with the arena try to figure out how you could change that for the horse. It's all psychology. Also consider if your horse has turned numb, and become desensitized from too much nagging and kicking in the past. It is often the case, and turning that around is absolutely possible - but it requires time and effort on your behalf. You got to teach your horse the proper meaning of pressure and release again, and you yourself has to work on your timing skills. In order to be able to recognize when the horse is trying to listen to you, and reward it quick enough. There are no quick fixes. Non that works long term anyway.

If you are doing it until your balance suffers, then it may be time to call a trainer. It's just like she said, don't let the horse dictate what it does. Your horse may not be thrilled about circles, but you're the human, you dictate go. You're letting yourself become baggage for your horse. Sorry if I'm being harsh.

@@kimsechrist4139 it can absolutely be part of the issue for her that she has let herself become the horses luggage. But. To be honest, most of the time it IS an issue of the rider constantly nagging and putting pressure on the horse. I've ridden a horse now for about a year which were SO DAMN LAZY you wouldn't believe it. 30minutes in the arena and I were soaked through with sweat. Constantly having to drive drive drive, and she was just absurdly numb to my leg and seat as well. Plus, that horse were seriously bored to death with spending time in the arena. So she just turned her brains off and zoned out. She's another horse now after I've been the one riding her for this long were I've worked with teaching her the concept of pressure and release again. She has become almost as supple as I want her regarding using leg aids, but still got quite a bit to go regarding listening to the riders seat. Another fix for this lazy horse has been riding out, a lot, and not asking too much when being on the arena. This horse were even lazy out on the trails at the beginning, but now it's almost the opposite! Perhaps too much drive sometimes. She's a lot more alert on the arena, and it is getting easier and easier to get her forward. Doesn't need a lot of work from my part anymore. The difference is huge now compared to when I began riding her.

@@Telindra Right, I just meant it kind of generically. Like, for whatever reason, the horse is doing what it wants instead of what the rider says, so the horse is just carrying them around. Could totally be nagging. That's why I advised a trainer to Barbara, and possibly some more riding lessons for your mentioned owner. If they can't keep their feet right, riding may not be for them.

@@kimsechrist4139 a good instructor is worth its weight in gold, will definitely help any rider. The owner to the horse I am riding is a beginner rider in a lot of ways, she hasn't been riding for that many years and is self taught. Pretty much. She do see a instructor every now and then, but not often enough to see speedy improvements in her riding. However since we are riding together now (she owns two horses) I help her a lot, reminds her to be wary of what her legs and feet are doing. Help her to become aware that she's falling into chair seat. And steered her into thinking about rider biomechanics which in turn have helped us both, she got some back and hip issues, and I've struggled a lot with a stiff hipjoint which made me do some srsly odd stuff with my seat bone in that side. However I do feel that I am taking the riding and fixing my own body issues a lot more seriously than she does, thus making greater leaps in my own progress. I am always concerned about the horse I am riding, and the horses experience of being ridden.

there will be a short window where the transition from walk to canter is where he will trot. Try to lengthen that window, find the perfect speed and dont stop until you get his trot. If he literally just will not trot, I'd recommend doing some groundwork with him, lung him and get those transitions going. Also think about pressure and release, release is the reward, when he gives you what you want, reward. Hope this helps!

Check out Dr Audrey DeClues podcast. There is a biomechanics reason for exactly what you are describing. All too often people say “kick the horse” “the horse is running the show and being stubborn” etc… when really they are in PAIN. Anyway, lots of AMAZING information that I think every horse person, especially equestrians NEED to be aware of. (From one equestrian/ horse advocate to another.) Dr Geoff Tucker with the “Horses Advocate” website is also AMAZING! God bless you and yours friend!

Hes bored of the Arena :) read some other replies in this comment section!!

Dose your horse drive. I find with my driveing horses(percherons) that when your riding them and trying to get them to go can be hard. If so I find that voice commands, les leg, and different amounts of contact in their mouth, (less contact to go, more contact to stop) can help. I do 4-H as well and I with I could ride one of my drafts to the gymkhanas. Good luck!