Feeling guilty about not riding one of my horses

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lucky7

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Now the winter is approaching and the clock going back at the weekend i will be seriously pushed for time!
I have 2 horses and this is the dilemma. My cob i am really enjoying riding at the moment and i have just had her shod as her work load has increased. Today's schooling session has really got me thinking about things! she went the best ever today, i really want to get her out over winter doing some dressage. She's way less stressy than the sec D who is very spooky and really stressful to take out as he goes to pieces and goes backwards resulting in me getting frustrated with him and giving up competing as its a waste of money, no i don't expect to win or get placed but i would like to stand a chance!! had lots of lessons and hes always top notch at home but terrible as soon as hes out his comfort zone :( He moves better and has potential but TBH i don't have the time to nurse him out to different venues every weekend getting him used to it. I have spent the best part of 3 years with him in dribs and drabs but he's still the same. I am a busy working mum of 4 so time is precious and life is short!! So i have been riding both horses when i can but now the darker nights are here i will be out of light. So i intend to ride the cob throughout winter and leave the D to have some time out. However he did have a massive chunk of this summer off again due to the reasons above and i was enjoying the cob. He doesn't seem to mind (why would he he's a horse!) he still gets plenty of attention and grooming sessions etc so he's not left out so to speak! I just feel guilty having a perfectly sound horse not doing anything all winter.......he also has a beautiful monarch dressage saddle which i am tempted to get adjusted to fit my cob over winter since her saddle is an uncomfortable older wintec GP. Selling him is not an option, they both live together on our own land so they are good companions.
Has anyone else got 2 but only ride one?
 
Don't feel guilty! Horses don't care if they are ridden or not so don't worry about him! Enjoy the cob, groom your Welsh and enjoy the winter as best you can given that this is Britain!
 
I know the feeling. I actually got a little weepy looking at old photos and videos of me on my boy Ned, who I've ridden for 9 years ish and owned for almost 5. We've been on so many adventures together and come on such a long way, but he can still be difficult. He is currently field sound but a bit unsound in work, so at least that gives me a bit of an excuse and makes me feel less guilty!
I have to remind myself, that unlike my mare (who I'm riding a lot at the moment) he actually likes being left out with his pals for weeks at a time and doesn't much care for coming in. I just feel so bad that he thinks I've forgotten him, or think I have a favourite, which is utterly stupid!
My mare is just so nice and easy! I took her out in the lorry for the first time today (her first time in a year) and it was all so easy!

So, I know your pain. I think so long as the D's basic needs are met and he's alright being left, we shouldn't feel guilty :) As hard as that is!
 
Surreydeb said:
Could you get a sharer to help out? If not, the D won't care if not ridden!
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I have tried sharers in the past but it doesn't work out to well - it would be different if it was a livery yard but with it being private its not the same. It was minor things like my honey suckle plant being snapped in half and a few gate rails broken, kids there etc....i'd rather not!
Thank you though i think i will leave him for the winter and get that saddler out for the dressage saddle!!
 
Start thinking about it differently, the Welsh D is your cob's companion - that's his job. Sometimes you have time to take him out and ride him, which is a bonus for both of you. You have nothing to feel guilty about and I'm sure the gelding won't care.
 
I have 2 horses kept at home I really prefer riding one over the other so sometimes if I am short on time or just not in the mood for the quirky one I don't ride him, it is supposed to be enjoyable at the end of the day just do whatever you can over winter don't feel guilty :)
 
I'm in a similar boat.

I love hacking out on my mare, I know what she will have a 'look' at but I feel so relaxed riding her, my gelding on the other hand is a complete stress head and our hacks seem to be a constant spook opportunity :( I like riding him but it can be very tiring as I can never really relax and it has actually been a relief the last few weeks that I haven't been able to take him out because the farmers have been ploughing and planting and he doesn't 'do' tractors.

Both horses can be led from so I'm planning to see if I can lead my gelding from my mare which will get help keep them both fit and also....Hopefully....teach his spookiness that the world isn't out to eat him!
 
I feel your pain, my horse has had 3 abscess recently and sunday was the first time I managed to ride in 3 weeks, and only the 2nd time in 6 weeks! its so dark after work now! I managed to get my YM to bring him up from the field this afternoon and went for a quick 20 mins hack around some of fields! and turned him back out in the dark! sucks!! he seems so bored not doing anything! but obviously he's not been able to!
 
I agree. if you would rather work the cob and do stuff with him. that's fine don't beat yourself up about it. your other boy is clearly happy doing less. I have only go one horse and it has taken us eleven years to get to the point where he is a pleasure to take out. I love him dearly but he has been really tricky but we have persevered. he has a lesson with our trainer once a week and goes out to compete most weekends. he is can still be tricky to load - he goes in but we can have a complicated game of chess before he does. he is 20 but won't be taken for being more than 10. he is incredibly talented and improves all the time. I know that you are short of time so that really impacts what you can do. if you are able to do something it will help over time. I hope you are able to achieve your dreams with both your horses
Pearlsasinger said:
Start thinking about it differently, the Welsh D is your cob's companion - that's his job. Sometimes you have time to take him out and ride him, which is a bonus for both of you. You have nothing to feel guilty about and I'm sure the gelding won't care.
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No reason to ride if you don't want to! You make the decisions and it'll soon be dark and cold at night so plenty reasons to give him the winter off. Its surprising how horses can improve with age and he won't mind if he's not ridden, at least you have one to ride! I have one I bought in the spring with a history of bad feet, bad back and difficult to find a suitable saddle, hoping to get him going in January/February but it will probably snow then!!
 
sounds like taking the other one along as a leadhorse would be a good idea, if only to get some more experience in for the future !
depends on where you are ofcourse if it's possible.

But I understand...I had my 2 oldies for nearly 30 years and had already a young horse (bought as a foal) lined up. And for the same reason I only started riding her at the age of 6 because I was still having too much fun with my other horses.

Sadly i've lost all of them now to old age colic and the younger one at 13 because of ppid/lami.
 
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