OTTB - Afraid of Indoor Arena

Bouffe seemed to have settled in to his knew surroundings and was his usual relaxed self while I groomed him and put his saddle on, until... We walked up the road from the main barn to the indoor arena and Bouffe was on edge as soon as he saw where we were going. 

The day of the show the trail class was in this arena and Bouffe wasn't to crazy about being in there. But today, I wasn't on his back, which made it easier for him to go into his flight mode, which he did. This is the first thing he has ever been afraid of; so, I decided to ride him outside instead and he was his usual well behaved self. We rode in the outdoor ring, which has a sand base, but was still wet from all of the rain. I have learned that the wet going is not Bouffe's favorite type of footing and I had him do some figure eights and serpentines at a walk, which he did like a champ. But I was disappointed about the indoor arena. So, tomorrow I plan on working with Bouffe on the ground, with a longe line and possibly turning him loose in the indoor arena.

I took a few pictures while I was there today. The first is Bouffe's private paddock and run in shed. The others are of him just being a horse without having to defend himself against the attack herd of grade geldings that ruled the field at Gunpowder.