Am I That Bad An Owner?

TheresaW

TheresaW

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I have recently moved yards from a yard that had very limited turnout, to a yard that has turnout every day. At old yard, was given the impression that if your horse is being ridden, why does it need to go in field. Didn't agree with this, hence moving yards.

Anyway, I also, have no problems with my horses being ridden more than once a day. Both have sharers who do various days and I will often ride myself, even if sharer has ridden during the day. I am now getting a bit fed up of people commenting "That horse has already been out today" and such like. Dolly used to be used on school on old yard. Same people didn't think it was that big a deal when she was being used 3 times a day at weekends for hour long hacks plus however many times during the week that she got booked (Often probably being ridden a lot harder than they are now). I know exactly who is riding and what sort of workload they are doing. Neither of them are bombed about (ground far too hard even if I wanted to at the moment) and they are rarely out for more than an hour.

I am now wondering if I am asking too much of them. Dolly is 13ish and Mac will be 11 this year. He has a dodgy leg and I do keep an eye on that, and in all honesty, she probably does more work than him, but it is only probably 2/3 times a week she is ridden more than once.
 
Not too much at all, I'd love to be able to put as much time into my horses. As long as they are in good condition and not struggling with the workload, I'd just ignore the comments, you know your horses, they don't.
 
Doesn't do them any harm to be ridden more than once a day! Keeps them fit and helps keep their weight down!
 
So when they go to a dressage, showing or jumping competition, they just do one class and then come straight home? Or perhaps they do a class, put the horse on the lorry, then do another class or two afterwards?

I really hope that they don't do a one day event - it would take them days to complete it!
 
Chex was ridden twice a day most days last summer to try and get the weight off of him, and he was 24 then! As long as they seem happy and willing I wouldn't worry at all
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i would say so long as you trust the people riding not to overdo it, then being ridden twice a day isnt too much, being ridden for a few hours a day isnt much, think about how long people go on hacks for... just divide the time in two.. and thats much longer than two rides in the school (does that make sense?) so long as you are happy with their workload, and keeping an eye on them both, i wouldnt worry! x
 
I was discussing this very thing with my RI last week - once mine are out 24/7 (hopefully Friday!) mine will be ridden twice a day at the weekend, out for a 1-2 hour hack, then schooling in the evening.

My RI pointed out that a lot of competition horses are out 3 times a day for a hack, school, jump, lunge etc, and it certainly doesn't do them any harm.

I wouldn't worry at all about your two, at least they'll be nice and fit.
 
I think half the problems with todays horses are that they aren't ridden enough.

And its gnerally accepted that two seperate sessions of work is better than one long one.

More sensible work will kepp their mobility levels up.

So I would say you are a very good owner.
 
Yep your horses are so ill treated and look terrible - NOT!

So what if they are ridden two or three times a day, they look great and lets face it riding school horses normally do a lot more than that and are fine.

Even old Cairo will get hacked to a show, do a class or two and hack home with no problem and he is 21 and semi-retired.

He does have the clydesdale rule of one - but will let people ride him twice a day gently - though complaining on the second go.

I have ridden twice a day in the past when I had time. Often when going to shows they will be ridden for three/four hours.

If they are fit and healthy - ignore people - most people don't exercise their horses enough.
 
No you are not! It sounds like you are sensible and have happy, fit horses. If I had the time I would definitely ride more than once a day - so ignore them!
 
no, you are actually doing your horse a favour! The more exercise they get, the healthier they will be in the long run!

Mine is 26 (16.1) and regularly goes for a plod with the sharer or a trot round the block, and a few hours later I am jumping/schooling or going for a razzle.

If they were that tired, you would feel it.
 
When I was trying to fitten myself I was riding twice a day - same horse. He loved it, but then when he goes to Pony Club camp he works twice a day, and during the summer holdiays he's sometimes out for 4 or 5 hours at a time. He's 14.

When I was a child I used to think nothing of hacking 15 or 16 miles to see friends, then hacking home again.

What about hunters - they don't do an hour and then stop. Some horses may not cope - just as some people can't cope with a full day's work, but they are in the minority!
 
Nothing wrong with it at all!

Blimey, would rather have a fit horse ridden twice a day to a fat lazy one not ridden enough!

How do they think riding schools survive???

I've ridden mine twice a day before, tell them to wind their necks in and leave you alone! The sages, experts and general wealth of knowledge on HHO has told you so!
 
No you aren't - the other owners don't sound too clever though if they think that working a horse twice a day is too much.

Mine are regulary worked twice a day and also regularly worked for 5 hours or more at weekend.

As long as your horses are fit healthy and happy that's all that matters and it doesn't do a horse any good to be unfit.
 
Plonkers!!
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I have the opposite...I hardly ever ride mine and get sick to the back teeth of comments like 'whats the point in having them'!!
Do as you please..if they're up to the job then carry on as you are
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Littlelegs, new forest park riding stables is looking for someone to work 5 days a week, dont know if its what your looking for but it is in Hampshire!

I dont see a problem working a horse twice a day for an hour at a time. Ive taken my horse out hacking for about 6hours before and it didnt do him any harm, think of the people who do long distance rides, theyre horses are getting a hell of a lot more work than yours are, i wouldnt worry so long as theyre not being pushed over what they can cope with.
 
look at riding school horses.

The horses and ponies there are ridden at least twice a day maybe more at weekends

some of the ponies at the riding school i work at on a sunday are in there late 20's and whilst they only do 1/2hr at a time theyre still ridden twice a day everyday (except mondays where al the r/s horses/ponies get a day off)

you know your horses best and know what theyre capable of.
Ignore the other peolpe comments.

It is more than likely they will be fitter and healthier for it... no doing them any harm!
 
Everyday riding is hardly that strenuous in my opinion that you can't ride twice a day. I think horses can cope with that and it is probably even very good for them to do more. As long as you keep eye on their fitness or any issues I dont see a problem with it. If I had the time and energy I would ride mine twice a day
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All I can add to everyone elses comments is ..... what lucky horses you have, sounds like they have a fab life to me.

I'm afraid in the horse world there is no pleasing some people. If they weren't being ridden often you'd get comments about that too - you can't win
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I wish I had time to ride Donkey twice a day - she needs it! If you go back to working horses, they worked all day and were fit.
 
well what do they expect riding schools and trekking centres to do (sorry if some one has mentioned that i haven't read the full post
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)i dont see any problems with it if i could ride mine more i would
 
Well pickle must be abused badly then he is on working livery so typically will do 1-2 hours in the morning then I will ride in later on.
 
QUOTE: 'At old yard, was given the impression that if your horse is being ridden, why does it need to go in field. Didn't agree with this, hence moving yards.'

Don't people realise that a horse being ridden is not the same as it relaxing at pasture? The two things are not interchangeable in their specific benefits for the horse.

Regarding workload: The work is sensible, as you say, they are not hammered about or working at a huge level of intensity....
So I do not see the problem. I would far rather see a horse doing that than stuck in a stable all day.....now that is wrong in my opinion.
 
i would try and find another yard where people support you rather than critise you - they are about if you ask around - there is nothing worse than a yard full of b**ches x x
 
Jigsaw is 10 now and I sometimes school/lunge in the morning and then hack out with my friend in the afternoon. He seems quite happy with this, and as you say if they were in a riding school they would be doing far more work. As long as your horses are coping with the work they are being asked to do then it is fine, just ignore the comments being made, i bet their horses aren't as fit as yours are! I get comments sometimes, but I just ignore them, jigsaw is the best he has looked this year so the extra riding must be paying off
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