Do you feel you spend enough time with your horse?

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vicm2509

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I am not talking about how much time you spend doing your yard duties or riding, but the time you spend just being with your horse, doing things together and bonding with him.

I feel like I never spend enough time, and some people wonder how on earth I can spend all weekend with him. I hate to think of my horse as a machine, or something I use purely for my own pleasure. If I am in a rush I feel guilty bringing him in then taking up, riding, chucking a feed in and going home so instead I may put him on the walker while I do my jobs then the time I would spend riding I will spend grooming him, or take him for a little walk. And the same after a competition, I unload him then like to spend a little time giving him a fuss. He may some days be out at grass all day, but I like to put a headcoller on and then perhaps take him to some nicer grass and just graze him inhand for a while. I also like to watch him in his stable, or with other horses in the field, I feel it helps me understand him and creates a better bond. Yet sometime I feel I dont spend the amount of time with him that I should, although I do feel that I spend more time with him than alot of others spend with their horses.

My horse is still there for my pleasure but I like to feel that he lets me ride him as a reward for looking after him (i know he doesnt feel like that but its what I feel). I like to try and see things from his point of view and dont like him to feel that his time with me is always spent doing things I want and his only pleasureable time is when hes in the field.

So do you feel that it is valuble to spend this quality time with your horse? And do you do it as often as you would like? Or do you feel your horse is there to serve a purpose and does not need you to spend time chatting to him and taking him for little inhand walks etc?

Im interested to hear other peoples views on this.
 
Lately my OH has been feeding them in the week when he finishes work as I dont drive and its about a 2 mile walk which I dont mind doing but its been too cold to expect my daughter to walk up there too, at weekends I bring them all (3) in one after the other and brush them and cuddle them!! Obviously Bear gets more attention because he's my riding horse but they are all just as special as each other
 
I know exactly what you mean, i have three horses (only one rideable atm) and i am constantly feeling like i dont spend much time with them as mucking out seems to take up 90% of the time. It will get easier in Summer when they are living out 24/7. I do make sure at weekends i spend more time with them individually.

It is not ideal but they all get cuddles once a day and kissed goodnight
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and they seem very happy!
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When i have time i enjoy spending non-ridden time with my horse.
However its normally only possible at weekends, in the week after work everything is very hurried, but i always say Hi and give her some fuss before getting her out to ride.

At the end of the day my mare is mega stroppy and sometimes doesn't want to be fussed so i just leave her to it. shes not particularly affectionate etc so sometimes i think she would rather i just left her alone!!
 
I know what you mean. I'd love to spend more time with my boy but at the moment, it's only really at the weekends that this is possible. It's a shame that work and other stuff gets in the way
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Yes, last night sat with mare having a one way conversation lol, gave her a groom etc..was lovely and she followed me from the field without a headcollar (used body language) and she came to call etc. I feel really bad if she dosn't get one to one attention which she hasn't had over winter as I haven't had a car.
 
My mare hates being groomed or fussed over so I don't feel too guilty about not spending time on this aspect of our relationship. I should spend more time riding though!
 
At the moment, no, I've seen them twice in two weeks for half an hour. But I am non weight bearing on crutches at the moment. Normally I think I spend enough time, I would like to spend a bit more but I have other commitments now so I can't spend as much time as I used to.
 
I need to spend more time with mine! My OH is most ofd the problem.... Doing yard duties is a nesseccity (spelling??) which have to be done. When it comes to grooming and actually working them its a diffrerent story and he gets huffy! I can't win with him so therefore sacrifice tiem with my horses to keep him happy.......
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I suppose most of us are in the same situation really as most of us work full time. I just always feel like there is so much I want to do with him but dont have the time. I always feel happy if I can even just sit in his stable while he eats his feed or spend 10mins watching him in the field and observe how he behaves naturally before I catch him so i have a better understanding of him.

Where as my friend who shares him thinks im mad, she just gets things done as quick as possible so she can get home. I know she wont feel as strongly about it as me as at the end of the day hes mine, but she thinks I am crazy enjoying watching him eat.
 
I'd love to spend more time with mine bonding and try to at weekends but it's hard not to rush in the week as I work full-time. I feel bonding time is very important for both horse and rider.
 
I feel like I dont spend enough time with mine. I have 5 and also work full time so it is rather difficult! I compete every weekend, so I guess I do all the cuddling then! But 2 of mine are retired ponies who I do feel like they get ignored a bit. Ive been trying to find a rider for one of them as he'd love to be ridden gently again which would bring his spark back. I ride him very occassionally (Im too big!) and he tanks off with me and is so happy for days afterwards.

I feel it is important, but I do think its harder with the more horses you have. It would be easy as hell if I just had 1 horse!
 
I am not convinced that horses feel the need to be fussed over by humans in the way that we think they might...it is a human trait. Most are happy with their lot if their basic needs are met, which equate to shelter, freedom to move, food, water and companionship.
Certainly my lad would not want to be fussed, cuddled and groomed all the time even if I had the time! His main priority in life is food and anything else is irrelevant. He enjoys going out on hacks as I think it stimulates him mentally.
I would love to spend more time with him but not sure it would be appreciated really. My horse is more of a games lad, he would rather play silly beggars, rough and tumble and chase in his field with you than be cuddled and groomed any day! But perhaps that is why I like him and get on with him so well?!
 
I would love to spend more time with my pony but work full time so its just not possible. However I do spend lots of time with him during the weekends to make up for not doing so during the week, plus I take time off work so that I can spend extra time with him.

He lives out so he has plenty of pony friends to hang out with so he is not lonely or bored so I don't feel guilty. Once the evenings get lighter then I will be able to do more with him during the week after work as well. At the moment I ride three or 4 times a week and he enjoys being ridden and fussed over but if I rode him every day then he might get a bit fed up and he's only 5 so its good for him to take it a bit easy
 
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