How many horses do you ride regularly? Does riding more horses benefit your riding?

little_flea

little_flea

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Purely out of interest!

I seem to end up with quite a few horses to ride - not because I am especially good, but mainly because I am willing to - I have always ridden quite a few horses for other people as well as my own in the hope it will be educational. Sometimes I wonder though - does the way you ride one horse benefit or hinder the way you ride other horses? I guess all pro's ride a lot of horses, so this is mainly directed at us (more or less - I'm certainly more...) amateurs. I am hard-working as a rider, but not v naturally talented.

What I ride:

I have one horse of my own, compete and ride an additional one daily, and there are 5 other horses I ride more or less frequently. Some are old, some young, some are show jumpers and some are dressage horses. (All competition horses)

The benefits of not riding just one horse:

Riding more horses has expanded my "toolbox" and I am quite good at getting a decent tune out of most horses, especially tricker ones. / Two of these horses are fairly high level dressage horses and I love to ride them because they help me fine tune my aids and get a feel for how some more advanced moves should feel (I compete in show jumping though I do a lot of "dressage" training).

The downside of regularly riding several horses:

I find it harder to find a good canter and a good eye for a stride on a horse that is very different to my own horse / I sometimes feel that my sensitivity for a particular horse is a bit dulled and a bit "lowest common denominator". I worry that I ask the horses to conform to my way of riding, rather than me adapting to their way of going.

Really interested in your answers!!!
 
I ride my own tb 5/6 times a week - he is a real all rounder in terms he can do a reasonable dressage test at Novice but is equally happy doing a 1.10 course but does have some issues still from being an ex racer mainly in the canter. I also have my baby racer who is only 3 so most of our stuff is done in walk and trot and is still relatively wobbly. I also get to ride a 15hh highlandx tb who is sooooo much fun but again is very different from either of my tb's, a 16hh coloured ish who needs a confident rider as she has a tendency to take the piss with her current rider, a 14.2hh cob x who again takes the mick and a 15hh arab x id who in her day was a fab all rounder but now we just hack out. I do enjoy riding the different ones as my older tb can be very sharp out hacking so sometimes it is nice to have a relaxing hack rather than having to be constantly thinking one step ahead all the time. I do struggle with jumping other horses as my older tb has a ridiculous stride and we have been working on getting the stride more collected,engaged whereas some of the smaller horses naturally have this so I can over cook the striding sometimes :)
 
I try and ride as many horses as possible. It does you the world of good to just work out what makes them tick. I will pretty much ride anything!
 
I have two of my own at the moment, both completely different, ones 15 and ones 4, both have helped my riding (One in particular has helped me to sit "proper" bucks!). I have another one to sell, who constantly reminds me why leg muscles are needed. On the other hand, I ride my sister's naughty, quirky games pony who regularly tries to dump me (and fails most of the time).

I'll pretty much give anything a go. Although some people would say I'm too brave...which probably isn't a good thing. I love riding different horses, and the more experience of different situations and working out what each horse needs can only improve your riding skills. :) I too try to ride as many as possible as I hope it will help me improve, however I understand what you mean about the disadvantages.

My sister has two games ponies, and she can practise on one fine, but then cannot vault the other one after, as the timing is completely wrong, because one takes stronger aids, or has a tendency to take hold and run. I don't think you can really compare this, but it's a similar principle.
 
At the moment I'm just riding my own. But before he came along, I was horseless.... and before that, my mare was on box rest for so long on and off over the course of a year. So in that time, I was very kindly offered horses to ride mostlly by people who also get lessons from the same RI. It was really good and really educational. They were all very different rides from eachother, and wayyy different from my own mare. But they all sort of prepared me from my current horse which gave me a boost in terms of coming up to speed on riding something other than a forward going welshie!

I also made it a point of getting lessons on a few other of those horses I was riding. My riding, generally frustrated by my forward going welshie (who very much had a mind of her own, and used it against me every chance she got) was able to develop a bit more by more submissive and more obedient rides. My RI's comments "You're actually not a half bad rider" LOL hmmmmmm
 
i definitely rode better when i was riding 10-12 horses a day.

1. the muscles are better trained into the correct position by the sheer number of hours you are in the saddle.

2. riding fitness is much improved. i noticed i was much sharper at the end of a BE Novice xc course mentally and physically when i was riding so many horses.

3. i actually think it stops you getting stuck in a rut as each horse gives you something different.
it can also highlight whether an issue is yours or your horses if only one horse does something or whether most of the horses you ride show the same (e.g. every horse you ride is heavy on the right rein).
 
Would ride 4-6 a day depending on time of year. Usually ride 3 at work in the summer and then Song. This has helped he greatly as I'm jumping a lot more and find it easier on Song when I ride him it has also highlighted some probs with my riding. In the winter is slighly different where I ride 4 up the gallops and work then Buster up the gallopsans then Song. This is usually bad for my riding ie tipping forward and a relaxed attitude about dressage etc!! On the whole thou I think it's good to ride lots of different horses
 
I think the answer to the initial question of 'does riding more horses benefit your riding?' has to be yes. I don't think that anyone can argue there is no BENEFIT to riding more horses, as you have stated already - rider fitness will be significantly improved which can only be a positive thing, however, does riding more horses IMPROVE your riding - personally I do not think that is necessarily a given.
I think we need to look at the bigger picture - what do you want to achieve? I think to seriously improve you need to ride more horses that are specific to your discipline. I suppose my point in short is that I think sheer volume alone is not as important as the quality.
You constantly hear people saying how riding countless young horses 'ruins' their riding. I am not sure it does at all, but I know that it makes you very good at certain aspects of riding, but perhaps does not push you closer to your ultimate goal.
When I worked at Gestut Lewitz (Schockemohle) the first 2 and a half days I rode just young SJ'ers and like you initially, the horses that didn't have the dressagey type canter - I found quite tricky - but on the first day I rode 14 - jumpers :O. But I received constant training/supervision by a top SJ trainer... without that I do not think the improvement would be so good. However when moving to the dressage barn (:D obvs where I belong lol :D), I rode similar numbers of mainly 3yos the odd 4yo dressage horses. These are superbly bred animals that many of whom will go forward for performance testing later in the year. Initially I received some training from the head rider, then was left just to get on with it - as in reality, riding a 3yo is not rocket science and she just wanted to ensure that I was working along the correct lines/principles. So, 50 odd dressage ponies later... vast improvement.. not really! As although the sheer quantity can benefit your feel/seat, because (in my case) the horses were all so young, the actually work were doing is all the same - boring baby workings! aww! Once the horses become more established (and are able to start to progress further) they are either sent to be performance tested or to Muhlen (main yard) to be prepared for auction - so IMO leaving me unable to further improve.
In an ideal world you would have horses suiting your specification at varying levels, but all good quality (different qualities but all good none the less) to seriously improve... or just be Laura B!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D
 
I just had Adrian the ISH for ages, & then got Trev the TB who is a totally different horse. He is far more sensitive & has held up quite a harsh mirror to my riding.

It is v interesting having a responsive horse. With A, I could do pretty much whatever up there & get the same result, but with Trev, every little nuance has an effect. Usually him going ??????? because I've been imprecise. I have to concentrate properly & make sure that I'm correct & clear cos (unlike A) he will do what I've asked instead of what I meant.
 
I have four at the moment. What I have found is that riding more horses gives you callouses on your hands :) and makes you more centred and balanced in your riding. However, if they're not all of the same discipline it actually makes you ride less well in each discipline, or less well in the one you do least. Far better to have 4 SJers or 4 Dressage horses than to have a mixture.
 
Interesting points everyone. I also think generally riding a lot of different horses is beneficial - but sometimes I wonder if the "bad" ones are not really helping much... interesting what you say re different disciplines - I have never considered that aspect. I'd love to show jump brilliant horses all day long but don't have that option - so I'll have to settle for what's on offer!
 
mystiandsunny said:
I have four at the moment. What I have found is that riding more horses gives you callouses on your hands :) and makes you more centred and balanced in your riding. However, if they're not all of the same discipline it actually makes you ride less well in each discipline, or less well in the one you do least. Far better to have 4 SJers or 4 Dressage horses than to have a mixture.
Click to expand...

That is interesting. I wonder if the muscle memory gets a bit skuwiff if you're constantly changing disciplines - eg longer leg for dressage vs sj. I did find that even when I change on the same horse that putting my dressage saddle on vs working hunter saddle that I'm sore for a few days after the switch ....reckon the horse will feel that too!
 
I ride my 3, 6 days a week. They are all very different so I havent fallen into that trap of riding a certain way just because of habits devleoping on certain horses. then i ride some at shows for other people. But when i rode a bit of a nasty one, it really dented my confidence so i say no to nasty horses now, i just dont need it.

I love riding different horses but only if its consistant - cant stand just jumping on them and not having them go how I want (perfectionist!!)

I probably rode better when i was riding 8 a day but that might have been because i was a bit fitter? The trouble with doing so many (i looked after 13, rode 8) my back was messed up a treat so that hindered my riding.


The biggest difference is attitude i think -
When i rode just one for a couple weeks over the winter that was terrible! I defintaley didnt ride it as well then, as my attitude was different - it was a novelty (this is so fun, you can get away with murder if you want ) as opposed to this is work so do your job.
i think thats where the difference lies.
 
I must say all of mine have been trained to go from the leg immediately when they are broken (as i am rather short) and i hate kicking things round

anyway i rode someone else's last night and im sure my riding was horendous though it was a just broken 4yo x
 
I'd love to have the option of riding a lot of horses in a day but unfortunately with a full time job (like a lot of you!!) my own horse has to take priority. I work 8-6 most days so there's not much time for more than one when I get to the yard! But I definitely think riding a variety of types and personalities benefits riding - even if it's only to get the realisation of what you like/don't like etc. There are a couple of others I ride but because their schooling is so different to mine (i.e. they don't get much!) I find it really hard work to get them to understand what I want. As I only ride them on the odd occasion I don't feel that I benefit that greatly - were I to be riding them more regularly it would give me a chance to figure out what worked and didn't work but I don't think it would be fair for me to put too much pressure on to bring them round to my way of riding when they have someone else on them 90% of the time.

So after all that waffle, basically I do think riding different horses is beneficial to your riding but mainly if it's a regular thing - doesn't matter how different the horses may be as I think the more variety the better, but other than getting more exercise it's not massively beneficial on a very sporadic basis!
 
I used to ride a lot of different horses. Some were regular rides, others hust an occasional keep horseticking over during a hoilday type arrangement.
What I found during that time was I could quickly get a feel for how to ride a new horse. Good job really as not unknown to meet horse for first time at a comp with 15 minutes before due to go in.
Now I have my current lad I really dont want to ride any other horse. Says a lot about my boy ;)
 
Including her own, my daughter regularly rides about 5 horses- 4 TBs and one evil pony. She says (I'm paraphrasing here) each has their own individual challenges and she likes being able to try and work out what works for each of them if that makes sense.

When she was going through a really bad patch with her own horse she didn't ride her for a couple of weeks, but when she got back on her she said she realised how much she'd missed her and how many good points she actually had so it was good for that too.
 
I have been very lucky and have had access to a number of quality ponys, but tbh i really dont judge them on that i loved all of them for who they are not there abillity just making it clear that i am a sucker for a sweet pony!!

over th last 3 years i was riding up to 4 horses a night after school...

Bracken (ripxx) my little pony who sometimes needed a little leg but he taught me so much bless him

Bumble - a 16'2 hunter who hadnt jumped in about 10 years and neded alot of work, but i loved her soo much (although i was extremly over horsed!!)

Laddie - a JA show jumper (148), he had a stringhold in his hind leg so took a little work to get the bst out of him and to get his leg to drop, but all the same it sis me good to have to *ride* not just sit there.

Mister Smartie - another JA pony also 148cm, more than anything i completly fell in love, he was a dream to school and showjump although when hacking he did bolt a few times so i rode him in a double bridle for that and even tried a bit of XC :D i rode him for 2 years (sold last sept) he probably taught me the most and brought me up to jumping 120cm :)

Blue - i bought her 2 years ago (same owner as the above ponys) she is a speedy little 148 jump pony who did do BSJA (JC) although i have yet to try that. she has taught me loads, and i think we have perfected our technique togther...

i am also going to take an ex race to pc camp this year to further improve my riding :D he is really sweet, i also sometime ride a 16'2 showjumper ( needs alot of leg!!)

so yes riding diff ponys has made me a much better rider than i would have been (although i did get 2-3 lessons a week - soo tiring!!not my choice either :P )

I ride blue everyday apart from the odd day off, she is so buzzy she doesnt get many.
 
During the summer i only tend to ride my 3 horses everyday... but during the winter i help exercise my yard owners many hunters.

I personally think that riding a lot of different horses is good for my riding because it (as poster said) allows me to extend my ''toolbox'' and be able to get good things out of most horses i ride.

I do, however, feel that when i ride different horses i tend to be less 'two minds as one' with a particular horse (ok... this is really hard to explain...) but, for example, when for a couple of weeks i only rode Bugsy, we really became even more of a pair as he was the only one i rode, but when i mix and match with my other horses and YO horses, i feel this link decreases ever so slightly? (might just be me.. but thats how i feel)

So overall i think riding many horses gives you a wide range of 'tools' (as poster called it) for different horses, but not as much detail to each specific horse... if that makes sense? and i think you can become very finely tuned to one another when you only have one horse to ride regularly.
 
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