MochaDun
Well-Known Member
I am having a bit of a slump due to various personal circumstances which limit what I can do with my horse due to finances and time. And today I've thought, am I restricting his enjoyment, interest, variety of activities and is that fair to him? I've had him 6 years and in that time after a tricky first year when we were, shall I say, "establishing our relationship" 
, we've done 2 local showing classes, 2 local jumping classes, 2 years at the annual riding club camp, fun dressage day at yard, one proper dressage test, and about 2-3 riding club rallies a year. Beyond that, it's been fortnightly lessons, and hacking and schooling as I have no transport and can't afford to get any.
Both of us to me feel a bit flat at the moment. He's a native cob x and while you could never describe him as forward going, I know he perks up for jumping and does like variety. We used to have the most amazing hacking partner on the yard and went on a different hack/ride every weekend and would go out for 2-3 hours and I think at that time he was the fittest and happiest I've known him (had to keep up with a lively TB mare!) but that person had to move yards 3 years ago, I really miss her and since then our hacking has become a bit routine and not such long or varied hacks though I still have 1-2 lovely people to hack out with.
So do you ever feel you are short-changing your horse in terms of the spice of life and giving them not the same-old, same-old or is it enough to manage what you can afford to do in terms of time and money until things improve again?
, we've done 2 local showing classes, 2 local jumping classes, 2 years at the annual riding club camp, fun dressage day at yard, one proper dressage test, and about 2-3 riding club rallies a year. Beyond that, it's been fortnightly lessons, and hacking and schooling as I have no transport and can't afford to get any. Both of us to me feel a bit flat at the moment. He's a native cob x and while you could never describe him as forward going, I know he perks up for jumping and does like variety. We used to have the most amazing hacking partner on the yard and went on a different hack/ride every weekend and would go out for 2-3 hours and I think at that time he was the fittest and happiest I've known him (had to keep up with a lively TB mare!) but that person had to move yards 3 years ago, I really miss her and since then our hacking has become a bit routine and not such long or varied hacks though I still have 1-2 lovely people to hack out with.
So do you ever feel you are short-changing your horse in terms of the spice of life and giving them not the same-old, same-old or is it enough to manage what you can afford to do in terms of time and money until things improve again?
