Many horses are anxious when ridden alone. This exercise builds solo confidence.
Start by riding in the arena with other horses present. Gradually separate from the group.
Ride patterns (circles, serpentines) that take you away from the other horses. Return to the group and praise.
Increase the time away from the group: 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes.
Eventually, ride with no other horses in the arena. Start with 5 minutes and build up.
Keep the horse busy with exercises — a working horse has less time to be anxious.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Starting with full isolation before building up gradually.
Getting into a fight when the horse calls to other horses — redirect its attention instead.
Only riding in company, never challenging the horse's independence.
Ending the session when the horse is anxious instead of when it's calm (this rewards anxiety).
Variations & Progressions
Ride alone in different locations for generalized independence.
Practice alone at different times of day (early morning, evening).
Combine solo riding with confidence obstacles for a multi-challenge session.
Tip: End every solo session on a positive note — even if you only get 3 minutes of calm work, end there. The horse learns that calmness ends the session.
Email This Exercise
Get step-by-step instructions, tips, and variations delivered to your inbox.
