Do you feel guilty?

[Equus Leather]

I have my loan horse for fun and pleasure. we are doing the odd local bit of dressage, nothing flash at all because I'm not that good. I enjoy her and enjoy riding.

BUT

I do feel guilty if I don't ride her. She's out at the moment during the day and comes in at night to keep one of our other horses company. I feel guilty if I don't ride her for one day. Like, yesterday I schooled her and had a lesson from my OH, all good. Today becuase it's dark and miserable I just don't feel like it. Was going to go into the field and do some jumping, but I really don't feel like it. Could accompany my OH on a walk up the lane with his horse that's returning from injury....

I'm not aiming for the olympics or anything special, but why do I feel guilty? I will ride her, mainly to give her and me a leg stretch and i'm sure i'll enjoy it and feel better afterwards, it's just being motivated!

 

[Donkeymad]

Why are you feeling guilty? The majority of horses are quite happy to spend a day or two in the field. See the thread here yesterday about it.

 

[dressager]

Yes, I posted on this yesterday. The general consensus was - don't feel guilty! The horse doesn't mind...

But my thought is if you train the horse (especially as young one as in my case) on a daily basis (or there abouts) to become supple, elastic with correct use of his muscles, then you have a few days off, then expect the horse to be as supple and elastic as it was previously, surely this is more detrimental to the horse? Its as if it pushes back the training very slightly and more importantly, does not facilitate natural progression and development of muscles if you keep stopping and starting.

But hey, a few days off once in a while does both horse and rider good I think. Sometimes there is just no point schooling if you are not in the right mind set.

 

[Puppy]

Generally speaking no. But with Believe I've spent weeks getting her super fit, which she thrives on, and she loves her work and being in such a regime

and yet I've not been able to ride for the last 4 days because my back is so wrecked.

So I do feel guilty there, and frustrated cause we were really cracking on with our summer plans

and I can tell she is bored and disappointment when I only feed and don't bring her in for some "playtime"

I asked my mother to take her out today but funnily enough a super fit, super fresh horse, she's never ridden before, didn't really appeal to her

 

[cokelly]

Yeah I don't think you should feel guilty at all. However having a routine to stick to might help. So you could actually give yourself a day or two off but plan what you want to do before and after the break. Most horses I'm sure wouldn't mind too much but I know what you mean about not wanting to set the horse back further. I don't think this would happen if we're only talking about a couple of days off riding. It may make your progress slightly slower than others who ride every day but it certainly shouldn't halt it!

 

[Gorgeous George]

I used to and still do sometimes, but I am trying really hard to do want I feel like doing with George each day. On Mon it was soo hot I didn't want to put jods on so George and I went for an in-hand walk and it was great fun and we investigated all sorts of 'scarey' things.

 

[jellyshake]

i don't feel guilty as i know that shellee is a horse and therefore her main priority in life is to stand in a field and eat lol

I sometimes feel frustrated with myself for lacking the energy to ride, but thats more because i think it costs me money to keep them, plus time and effort and i never intended to have horses just to look at them standing pretty in a field

 

[gothdolly]

Yes I do feel guilty because all the ponies needs regular exercise and Domi especially needs to keep his weight down, the little one needs work to otherwise he gets a bit above himself and the old mare needs some gentle exercise to stay supple. So Im always lunging and riding and long reining (just learning that, only do it when no one around to laugh!!).

I always feel like doing it but work, raising a family and trying to keep on top of housework sometimes gets in the way.

 

[M_J]

nope, mine love their slobbing lifestyle, they make me feel more guilty for dragging them away from it....

LOL

BUT Pands came here not known if would ever be able to be ridden anyway, and Scout needed some R&R so it wasn't an issue in the first place