Developing a Routine/Schedule

[nato]

How many days a week do you ride? And what's your routine like?

Anyone have a horse that seems to 'forget' their schooling if they haven't ridden consistently for a few weeks? My mare was on holidays for 2 weeks, then when brought back in only ended up doing very basic work (hacking, light schooling, small jumps, nothing strenuous) or a couple weeks, before being off for another two weeks due to work commitments.

We had been going super prior to this, and are only back in work about 3 days, but feeling like she has forgotten everything we learned in the 4-5 months of serious schooling I put in! Or maybe I've forgotten everything?

Would be interested to hear how you develop a routine/schedule, and if anyone has experienced the same 'wall' as I am right now?

 

[wingedhorse]

How many days a week do you ride? And what's your routine like?

Anyone have a horse that seems to 'forget' their schooling if they haven't ridden consistently for a few weeks? My mare was on holidays for 2 weeks, then when brought back in only ended up doing very basic work (hacking, light schooling, small jumps, nothing strenuous) or a couple weeks, before being off for another two weeks due to work commitments.

We had been going super prior to this, and are only back in work about 3 days, but feeling like she has forgotten everything we learned in the 4-5 months of serious schooling I put in! Or maybe I've forgotten everything?

Would be interested to hear how you develop a routine/schedule, and if anyone has experienced the same 'wall' as I am right now?

I’ve got two horses, and a sharer that rides one, twice a week. And the odd hacking rider.

I tend to aim to school both 3 times a week, during the week. Riding before work.

Monday – school one, one has day off
Tuesday – school both, and sharer hacks / does poles / lunges one pm
Wednesday – school one, one has day off (will make this a hack if short of hacks)
Thursday – school both (one normally a lesson) , and sharer hacks / does poles / lunges one pm
Friday – school one, one has day off
Saturday – hack one or both / compete one / clinic lesson for one
Sunday - hack one or both / compete one / clinic lesson for one

Typical week

Horse 1

Monday – day off
Tuesday - schooled am, hacked pm
Wednesday - schooled am
Thursday - schooled am, polework pm
Friday – day off
Saturday – competition / clinic
Sunday – long hack

Horse 2

Monday – day off
Tuesday – schooled am
Wednesday – day off
Thursday - schooled am (lesson)
Friday – schooled
Saturday – hacked
Sunday –long hack

 

[eggs]

Mine get ridden when I get the time. Sometimes it can be quite a few weeks when I can't ride. I've never had a horse 'forget' what it has learned and often find they come back better for a break.

 

[Sammii1990x]

Because I have so many commitments, I make sure that I don't allow the horse I ride to become used to a certain amount of exercise or schooling purely because I cannot guarantee that I can keep up with the routine. If I have a week off work etc so therefore have more time to ride I will make sure the extra rides are doing something fun such as an exciting hack, or long-reining.