How long (on average) do you ride for per day?

[Acolyte]

As per the title really - on average I ride for 45 mins- 1 hr six times a week. Just wondered what everyone else did?

Just picked up a comment in a H&H article which was incredulous that people thought 45 mins exercise a day was enough - most people I know seem to ride for that sort of time period though?

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

I ride each horse for about 30-40 minutes schooling or out hacking (so can vary depending on where we go) and ride between 2 and 5 horses a day

 

[Irishcobs]

Probably about 30 mins during the week this time of year as its get dark to quickly after work. And about 1-2hours at the weekend.
During the summer is about 1-2 during the week and 2-3hours at the weekend.

 

[Super_Kat]

If I school it's normally for about an hour and if I hack I like to go out for a minimum of an hour and a half and they work hard, I never plod on a loose rein.

 

[monica987]

about 1 - 1.5 hours

 

[Acolyte]

Thats amazing, even the competition horses at my yard only get ridden for about 45 mins in the school and their version of a hack is a 30 min walk around the block!

 

[catembi]

When my horse was alive, I schooled for 45 mins Mon, Wed & Fri, hacked out (steady trot, several canters) for 45 mins Tues & Thurs, poss a lesson in the week, then at the w'end, longer hack, lesson or competing.

He was fit enough to do 2 affil dr or sj classes, or an unaff ode on that level of exercise. Didn't want him any fitter tbh cos he'd have been a pain in the a**e, plus no point putting the extra strain on his joints.

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

Am also shocked at how long people school for

 

[Ash the arab]

I usually school for up to 45 mins (inc. warm up/cool down), and hack for anywhere between 45 mins - 1 1/2 hrs.
I would say that Joe is quite fit, and i happily do 2 dressage tests or 2 sj rounds at a comp.
we also have a 1 hr lesson weekly.
I think that it is not necessarily how long you work them for but how effective the work you are doing is!

 

[Acolyte]

Got to be honest, my schooling lasts a shorter time when I am on my own cos I get bored - a 1 hr lesson flies by in no time when I can afford them.

I follow the same sort of routine as Catembi (have done with all my horses) and do lower level BE events with them on that work - have always had comments about how well/fit they are too!

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

[ QUOTE ]
I think that it is not necessarily how long you work them for but how effective the work you are doing is!


[/ QUOTE ]

Completely agree with you ash

 

[Butterbean]

Probably ride about 40 mins when schooling, an hour or so when we hack (not many long hacks round by us).

Not sure if H&H article was referring to total exercise in the day? ie including turnout time, walking round the field etc - so the 45 mins was referring perhaps just to time out of the stable??

 

[Acolyte]

Oh, never even thought of that

I was beginning to think I was some awful owner - but I turn mine out 99.99% of the time, and ride for longer if he hasn't been out. Well sounds like thats OK then

 

[moodymare1987]

I ride for about 1 hour 30 mins maybe more every day unless I school then for about 20-40 mins. I work my horse hard on hacks mainly do trot up hills and canter when possible, I do roadwork every now and again. But you can ride all over near me so horses dont get bored as its always different.

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

Don't go on time but go on the horse. Some little as 20min in the school teaching a cuple of things at a time others do better ridden for closer an hour before they start working well for you and picking up those things. Never bother to ask more then three new things because horses only have about 4 'thinking pods' Horses fittness comes into play too. Better lots short sessions. Always end on a good note too! Hacking wise 15min-endless hours!

 

[Super_Kat]

[ QUOTE ]
Am also shocked at how long people school for

[/ QUOTE ]

Allow 10 minutes for warming up and 10 for cooling down (this, in my eyes, should be walk with a bit of trot).

 

[Weezy]

If I school then I am on board for an hour, but that incorporates warming up and cooling down (10 to 15 mins school hacking for each).

Hacking - well, can be anything from 3 hours to 40 mins!

 

[Irishcobs]

Sorry should of added that is pure hacking as I don't have a school. I wouldn't school for more that 45mins.
And they live out 24/7.

 

[RachelB]

When my horse is in full work I school between 30-45 mins or however long it takes to get her working properly (up to about an hour sometimes), or hack for roughly an hour and a half. This is six or seven days a week, as my horse is out for only 4 ish hours in the winter and 12/13 ish hours on summer. If she's in for longer I might lunge for 20 mins in the morning and hack or school in the evening. For me, it's all about getting her out of the box for an adequate amount of time. Then it's up to me how long I work her for in that time. Schooling is different though, as I only school until I've achieved something positive. Lessons usually last for longer though, eg. flatwork is 50 mins/ an hour, and if I jump I do about 30 mins compared to about 45 in a lesson. I find these sorts of times are a happy medium between being out all day (and therefore not working), and not doing enough to keep her fit and interested.

 

[pottamus]

In the winter I hack 45 mins 4 times a week. In the summer I will do up to an hour hacking 4 times a week and then 2 longer rides of up to 2 hours at the weekends. I do more trotting than walking during these hacks. But I find that this level of work keeps him occupied and keeps his belly down...more importantly!

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

Ah sorry i thought you meant pure schooling lol was like

sorry wires crossed

 

[mitchellk]

Depend on level of competition (nearly all that I ride are eventers) but they are ridden for a min of 1 hr a day if schooling and up to 2 1/2 hours hack incorporating hill work, cantering etc They have training one to three times a week depending on what competition they working up to. Lunged at least once a week 30 min plus 10min loose to stretch afterwards. Also hunt and take to beach, forest or gallops for interval training etc.
They usually all have sunday or day after competition off (although may sometimes have a gentle hack after ode)
I probably ride 3-4 hours a day -working and then on my own horses for three hours in the afternoon, can't wait for clocks to change!!

 

[SpruceRI]

In the evenings in the summer hack to place of schooling, then school - probs max of 1hr. Local hack 1hr. Further afield 2 1/2hrs and if I box to the forest can be anything from 1hr -6hrs. All depends on the time available.

 

[Puppy]

At the moment with Star I'm hacking all the time as the field is too wet to ride in. I ride for anything between 1 1/4 hours to 3 1/2 hours, probably about 6 times a week. However, that does include a particularly long warm up and cool down as she takes time to loosen up.

When I ride Henry I don't give him anywhere near as long before I start trot work

 

[riotgirl]

So glad I've seen this post - I had the same reaction you did when I read it and I was convinced I am a bad owner! In the winter I only get to ride at the weekend (about an hour each day as she is very unfit by this point). This increases to 6 days a week when the nights get lighter for about 45 mins - 1 hour. She is also turned out 10+ hours a day.

 

[MagicMelon]

I ride as often as I can - daily if possible (but they always get the day off after a competition, and sometimes the day before if its a big event). Usually I just ride for 30 - 45 mins as I have 3 to ride usually!