You bring up an interesting point that I have thought about asking about before.
Do you think horses associate different areas for different behavior??? IOW's, in the past it has seemed to me that it is harder to get my horses to work good in our arena. It's home to them, sometimes it's the area I turn them into to play, they have been feed and watered there.
If I take them to a different arena, even when it's a familiar arena it seems they pay attention better, and work better. I've wondered if it was my imagination or a real thing.
But, I also think that because of this behavior at home, it is even more important that I get them to work good. Again, establishing whose in control. So it might not be a bad thing. I use to not like even trying here, the horse and I usually would both land up frustrated and I'd think I was back at square one, then I'd go somewhere else and they were fine...
Becky
Well, I firmly believe that they associate particular areas with behavior. Our rings are for work and/or exercise - they get turned out there to play and run sometimes but a person in the ring with them means work. Their stalls, paddocks, corrals are safe areas so to speak. Relaxing, food, sleeping in the sun.
Sorta like my doberman. She knew regular collar, behave but totally at ease. Choke chain, work, period. Not a matter of pulling on it or jerking her, just change of collar, change of mission.
I wonder if, when you take them somewhere else, whether you are subtly different, more serious, and anxious that they do well for you, just because you are now somewhere else and in 'public' display. And if they are naturally more willing to follow your lead when they are not in their own territory. Bay spooks at things here, but on trail he will trust me to tell him how to handle new things.
My horses and dogs knew the difference between sloppin along and 'show day' before I did anything obviously different. In the case of the horses, they'd find their fire at Arab shows and I'd get much bigger action than I would at home. In the dog's case... he would misbehaved in ways because he knew he couldn't be corrected at shows ;~D