Horse owners how often do you ride?

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sam72431

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As above really I aim for 6 days a week but not always practical around work and other commitments and often feel guilty if I don't find the time to ride which makes me question if I have enough passion for it anymore! I enjoy riding my horse and always feel better once I've ridden but sometimes it does take a bit of self motivation not sure if this is normal or if I should be really excited to ride?
 
Horse does something 5-6 days a week but try to vary it with hacking/flat/jump/lunge so may only ride him 4 days out of these.
 
This time of year, up to six times a week but can be three, depending on what else is happening, particularly work. In the winter, two or three.

I think it depends on both the horse and what level of fitness you require but I don't beat myself up about it as he has to fit in with the rest of my life. I love riding and would do it every day if I could but am realistic about the need to fit other stuff in.

Today is a running day but won't have time to run and ride tonight so will probably ride, despite the fact that I've got a 10k on Sunday... I will probably then run early morning tomorrow to make up for the "off" day
 
I normally ride mine 6 days a week. I love riding and look forward to it all day :)
He's had about a month off now due to injury and I miss it so much, going to get back on this week and can't wait! Fortunately I've had a couple of rides on friends horses in the mean time but it's not the same!
 
Normally 5, she only has 2 days off a week.
At the moment she's coming back into work, so only once or twice a week, but when she's in full work it was 5 days, a mixture of hacking, schooling, jumping and lunging.
I like to give her the 2 days off to just relax, also gives me a bit more time, not worrying about riding right after work :)
 
She is just coming back into work so it's all kind of boring mainly walking with some trotting it's maybe what is driving my lack of motivation!
 
sam72431 said:
She is just coming back into work so it's all kind of boring mainly walking with some trotting it's maybe what is driving my lack of motivation!
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This is what I'm going to have to start doing now :( just want to get back on with it as he was fab pre-injury!
 
I ride everyday, usually one or two horses.

I don't always give them a day off, tend to have two days in the week when I might do a shorter schooling session.
 
This time of year 5/6 times a week, 1 of those days will be a lunge/long rein session, 3 hacks out and 1 schooling session.
In winter it very much depends on the weather as I can only ride at weekends
 
That's kind of how I'm feeling saddle sore it takes a fair bit of self motivation as usually tired from working shifts and fitting other things in but once on board I really enjoy it! Considering giving up or just having a break but the horse I have currently is one of the nicest I've ever owned so it makes me not want to but I think mentally and financially might do me good but feels strange to think of life without a horse
 
3-4 times a week. I do have days where I just can't be bothered though. I don't beat myself up about it, if I can't be assed then I can't be assed!
 
Don't like riding when it's too hot and blazing sunshine, not fair on the animal, not bothered about rain cold etc, but I like to exercise his lordship 4 to 5 times a week, mix of hack school, doing more stressagy stuff at the moment with a bit of jumping, did a nice pleasure with a little Le Trec at the weekend.
 
I ride 3-4 times. Horse gets hacked on one other day not by me.

I really like this balance. Never feel like it's "work" and horse is looking and feeling fab :)

I used to feel stressed that I wasn't riding 6 days a week, till I realised it doesn't matter what other people do, just what suits you both :)
 
Horse one - every single day come what may (only missed days in the last 18 months due to abscess (her) and broken ribs (me) but kept her going with lunging and friends /instructors riding her).

Horse two - usually 5 + days a week or may ride and lead 1&2 together although she has been off work since I fell off horse one and broke my ribs! Aiming to get her back hacking in a couple of months if I am fit to do it.
 
I ride as often as I can, I have 2 to keep exercised so aim for one a day, and a friend hacks out with me on one of them twice a week. Sometimes I can't keep it up when work is busy or family staying so they might get a few days off. They are turned out every day and are both quite energetic in the field so I don't worry too much.
 
As often as I can.

I used to compete full on, so there was always a "training schedule", so the pressure was always on to stick to the schedule. I still compete, but only for fun, and ride as often as I can (5 or 6 days a week), because I love to ride, but I don't stress if I don't or if it's raining ...

Maggie doesn't mind. As long as dinner arrives on time she is quite happy and as she lives out 24/7 it's not a huge issue.
 
sam72431 said:
That's kind of how I'm feeling saddle sore it takes a fair bit of self motivation as usually tired from working shifts and fitting other things in but once on board I really enjoy it! Considering giving up or just having a break but the horse I have currently is one of the nicest I've ever owned so it makes me not want to but I think mentally and financially might do me good but feels strange to think of life without a horse
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Have you thought about a sharer? The right person is always out there and you can come to an agreement between you both to get the right balance - whether that be you have a couple of full 'days off' or half day duties or even just the riding side. Owning a horse can really take its toll sometimes with other life commitments, I do feel your pain as I have 2 and REALLY struggle sometimes - especially with them being hot heads it can get really hard work.

If you don't want to give up, take some of the strain off yourself - there are good people out there and you will know when it is the right person for you and your horse. Give yourself a break - remember it should be your pleasure & down time :)
 
I try to ride 5 times a week. Sometimes its fewer times, sometimes I'll ride 7 days. It mainly depends on what time I escape from work, and if there are jumping lessons on in the school. I'm a bit of a fair weather rider, and while I don't mind having lessons in the rain, or if it starts to rain while I'm riding I'll carry on; if it is peeing down before I start I'm likely to opt not to ride.

Having said that I'm trying to increase my mares fitness and decrease her weight at the moment, so I'm trying to be a bit more disciplined, and then work dictates if I do or not. I can't see the point in riding when I'm mentally exhausted - accidents are more likely to happen.
 
I work 120 miles away from my horse and only see him on weekends. As I don't have a school and he won't hack alone, I can only ride when the field is dry. So I can ride most weekends during summer but it means he gets most of the year off, it's not often the ground stays dry for long in Scotland! So, about once a week, if that!
 
2-4 times a week usually and only my weekend hacks tend to be 1hr+; unfortunately I have a 1hr30 commute to the office each way.
 
I exercise my pony 3 days a week usually alongside my sister on her pony. 1 day long/fast offroad hack (or jumping/xc/funride if we trailer out), 1 day schooling, 1 longish road hack, 1 quick leg stretch / relaxed plod if I have time. I'm not too bothered my ponies pretty much exercise themselves living out on a large hill turnout moving with the herd :)
 
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