Do People At Your Yard Actually Ride?

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Mithras

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Just wondering. I seem to be the only person at my yard who actually rides my horse. Was similar at another yard I was at a few years ago. Seems that some people will do everything for their horse but ride. And its almost like they're trying to project their own insecurities onto me! They think my horse is too big for me and give me doubtful looks (at 17hh and me 5 feet 1 he probably is but are horse or me complaining? No, we just get on with it quite happily). Or its too snowy (yes, but I can ride in the soft snow in the fields in walk). Or too icy. Or whatever.
 
Yep have come across yards like this. However, I LOVE my yard at the monment, as a good few are very driven so ride whatever the weather etc, so its very motivating
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not really but there are a select few that dont seem to ride, and their horses are just stable ordnaments. only ben on 2 yards so cant really comment too much. hmmm
 
Yep. Not been on livery yards in a long time, but it was a great way of picking rides up- people just didn't ride so let me get on with it. Can't complain really!
 
lol lol lol lol

i know exactly how you feel, been on yards where no one rides and they make all the excuses under the sun, and then make comments about you riding too much!!! what!!!

where I am now myself and my friend ride, not at the mo in this ice though as we cant get off the yard, which is driving me nuts, but the others there don't and they always give you a filthy look when you get back off a nice long hack like its against nature, or if you dare ride in the field wont even look at you!

so just ignor them and enjoy your hobby, thats what we all do it for isnt it, for enjoyment, whether you choose to ride or not
 
Most people at my field are not 'riders' although since there are no facilities I guess that's what you would expect!

I'm rubbish so can't talk but there are a couple of people who are terrified of riding. I mean - tena lady style! I suppose at least their horses are looked after and they are happy.

Some of the horses unfortunately are just left to rot and not visited. £28 a month makes it a dumping ground!
 
I have been yes but not now.

TBH, it didn't bother me. If their horses were in good health, then people can do what they like as far as I'm concerned.

Personally, I hate to see my horse stuck in the stable for hours during winter, so I ride as often as I can, regardless of the weather. Plus, if I didn't ride, I couldn't see the point of paying out so much money for what is to all intents and purposes a big dog. But as I said, if other people choose to do that, then that is fine.
 
Yes this is why I am about to move yards, if this weather will give over! I need a yard where people at least hack out, as my boy is not brave and needs a lead horse, or push bike. I like the yard I am on, but feel I need to move on to do more with him.
 
At our yard - one lady hacks out at weekends (this is all she wants to do, not criticising her) and that is about it. I ride every day in the summer, but in the winter I struggle to fit it in. Another girl was riding most days, but her horse has been poorly, so she hasn't been able to ride. There is a youngster with a pony on our yard, and she never rides - not sure why, and the pony is on part livery so I only see her about once a week anyway. The YO is the funniest on our yard though - she bought a 16.2hh 20yo schoolmaster and she is about 5'3 - she rode him about a dozen times, and now he is not ridden at all. YO has just bought a 15hh 16yo schoolmaster, and I'm hoping we can persuade her to hack out with us on him. She makes us all laugh though (not at her in a nasty way, just generally laugh) as she buys new bridles/tack etc for her 16.2hh that she has no intention of ever riding again. She admits she is nervous and has no desire to ride "properly" so at least she isn't one of these that kids themselves.
 
TBH there isnt many of us that ride on my yard... even tho we have an indoor school... and off road riding straight off the yard, and a jump/schooling field in the summer!

Im not really complaining that as like Chaps89 ive been offered a couple of horses to ride as a result of their owners not wanting to!

And at the moment... in these cold and dark times... there is only me and another girl (who is BSJA) using the school of an evening.. which means i can roll up at 5pm having forgotten to book the school and still be able to get in there!

Occasionally it would be nice to have a few others o ride out with tho! x
 
QR

Riding isn't everything though. I don't ride.

It doesn't mean my horse isn't as well looked after.

It doesn't mean I love my horse any less.

It doesn't mean I'm afraid.

It doesn't mean I lack any commitment.

I bought my little mare because I felt sorry for her, that's all. My long term plan was to hopefully use her as a light hack, unfortunately, due to some health problems of hers that have come to light she'll be nothing more than an 'ornament'

But do you know what? I don't care. In fact, when circumstances beyond my control meant that I could only keep one of my horses I chose her over my rideable TB.

I've not felt driven to ride for a long time. Yes I enjoy a nice hack, but I get a lot of enjoyment of just being with her. She's a sweet little thing, I enjoy grooming her (however infrequent that may be just now!) having a little play with her, when the weather's a little nicer I shall take her for walks again, maybe even sit the little ones on her, but she doesn't care that she's not ridden, infact, I think she rather likes it!

I'm not some bored housewife playing at owning a horse, I feel that I'm a dedicated owner. I help out at the yard to keep her there, and make sacrifices in order to buy her things. My YO does her for me in the evenings, I do her in the morning. She's not left to 'rot' in a stable, she's a happy little soul who's enjoying life.
 
Boosmum - I don't think anyone meant it like that. My saying some horses were left to 'rot' was not referring to people who don't ride.

In fact - i think the opinion of most people, as I mentioned in my post, is that as long as the horse is looked after and happy, who cares!
 
No, none.

I don't have all weather facilities so simply do not take on clients who want to board riding horses, plenty of other places around here for that.

I am, perhaps, a 'dumping ground' for 'in-between' horses, they are either babies, pregnant or retired. All are owned by absentee owners, who visit maybe once a month, or not, who cares? I fill a particular niche in the boarding market and everyone concerned is happy.
 
QR

About half/half split on my yard. Some are really dedicated and ride whatever the weather (not in snow though, strangely - I'd ride round the fields if my horse could be trusted!). Some are less dedicated but do ride regularly as long as it's not TOOOOOO wet/cold/whatever (myself included - I'd be more dedicated if I didn't have a semi-retired lunatic). And then about half of the yard just don't ride at all. There's a couple of retired horses, so that's fair enough, but the rest just make excuses - too busy (ha! they don't know what busy means, but that's a whole separate rant!), too cold, too icy, too wet, too hot, ground is too hard/soft, school is too busy (with one other person in there), horse looked at them funny....you name it, the excuse has been used. Even down to "the dog outside the tack room barked at me so I couldn't go in" (dog is muzzled, behind a closed gate, and is actually harmless if slightly noisy).

And these people have the nerve to say to me "Are you riding tonight?" "No, I have to go food shopping today" "Oh, giving her ANOTHER day off?" AAARGH.

Sorry, rant over, just had to get that out. Some even pretend their horse is lame/has some other illness or injury so they don't have to find regular excuses - just one long term blanket excuse (the vet has never diagnosed lameness/back problems/anything else).

Sad really. I don't really mind if the horses are well looked after and they leave me to my own devices, but why criticise me when I do ride my horse?!
 
Please don't take that the wrong way. I am all for retirement homes etc and people have different reasons for owning horses.

When i say 'dumping ground' I refer to my field where there is no YM or even anyone who is meant to check the horses over. Therefore a horse can be left unchecked, unfed, unrugged and if it weren't for the other owners making a fuss, injured horses would not receive veterinary attention.
 
The people at my yard clearly think I'm a dangerous lunatic, because not only do I ride, I hack out on my very large horse! Their horses are well turned out but they get about an hour's turnout a day into a small all weather school. No-one else rides their horses either. I realise this is quite common but I think it must be terribly boring for the horses. I'm moving yards as it would be nice to have someone occasionally to ride with and I'm a little bit fed up with the doubtful looks I get as I mount my horse. I think they must think I am very incompetent!
 
no ones saying that if you dont ride its bad, the original post is that why should those who dont ride criticise those who do and run you down, which is unfair both ways.

everyone choses there own way of doing things but its the ones who criticise that upset others theres no need for it, and doesnt matter the size of the yard theres always going to be one person who disagrees with everything that everyone else does.
 
I have been on yards where hardly any ride..including me but the difference is I seem to be the only one who doesn't make excuses.
I'll ride if and when I want...simples...
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There seems to be such pressure that if you have a horse you must ride/compete/whatever that people seem to spend their lives making excuses as to why they can't instead of just saying...I don't want or feel like riding.
There is a happy hacker down the road from me whose instructor insists that she ride her everyday, stable her if it spits. The horse is so fit that if she's not ridden everyday she's like an unexploded bomb....even though previously she was a very good riding school horse ridden by kids of all experiences.
 
i used to be on a yard where if i didnt ride everyday, i was given grief/snide comments, practically made to feel bad if i didnt ride, now i can do what i want when i want, each to their own, but seeing a horse stood in his stable for months not even getting out in the field/ arena i think is abit
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There are a couple of people at my yard who don't ride very often, but their horses are quite happy, they are out in the field with their friends all day and their owners spend time grooming them and looking after them, so if they don't want to ride them I don't see why they should have to. I've been feeling really guilty for not riding Scooby much lately (icy arena and lots of revision are my excuses/reasons) but I keep reminding myself that he really doesn't mind, and it's not like I'm neglecting him - I still bring him in for a groom and a cuddle. I'm lucky though because his owner's son likes to ride him, so he can keep him fit while I'm busy with exams and then he'll be nice and trim ready for me to start riding properly again once exams are over.
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Everything on our yard bar one pony (so all 13) even though one is a shetland and the other is my semi-retired pony are ridden twice a week, most people ride four or five times. Unless it's torrential rain, snowy or sheet ice.
 
Its a mix at mine, but don't really care what other people do as long as the horses are happy and they keep out of my business!!
What I dont really understand is when people spend thousands on a competion horses when they are not that bothered about ridding!!
 
Nope not a soul rides on my yard - that includes me but she's in foal so its ok as I would if I could lol

2 of the women have 8 horses each - crazy !!
 
We have a bit of a mix. Some hardly ever ride. Some are fair weather. Some will generally ride whatever the weather.

Then theres the nutters (myself including) who have actually ridden in the snow!
 
Nearly everyone on our yard rides regularly and there are about 60 of us so getting in the school in winter can be a nightmare sometimes!
At my last place, no body bar me and two other ladies rode, the others drunk a lot of tea!
 
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