How often do you see your horse?

I have full livery twice a week due to my work hours, so I see him 5 times a week. Sometimes if I have a late start at work I can see him in the morning, so 6 times.
 
Mine are at home, so multiple times a day. Rigs has dietary needs and is fed 6am, midday, 4pm and 9pm in winter. Summer is easier as he is out. BH is easy, twice a day would do him but I do him 3 X a day as I like to do a late night check. Rigs especially is very tying. Summer is so much easier, especially now we have a muzzle that works for him. He can be chucked out in the morning and be out all day.

However, the reason I replied is that, as you may have seen, I've had a torrid time with mum being ill and dying and then my husband suddenly and unexpectedly dying. On both occasions I shipped my horse out to a livery yard. Last year, BH was there 7 weeks straight while I had some ground works done by contractors, and I didn't see him more than a couple of times. He could have stayed but it was less stressful to simply ship him out. He was absolutely fine. He went to some shows for a clear round before the show proper started, boxed out to a couple of farm rides, but mainly was ridden on the school 20 minutes 3 x a week and had daily turnout. He came back just the same as how he went. Happy and content.

I specifically said I didn't want him in training as such, just ticked over. He really couldn't give 2 hoots.

In addition to that, life has changed this year with the addition of a boyfriend who likes travel in a big way. The horses are now on livery every month, be it for a weekend or for 2 weeks. Again, they are fine. They ship out, settle down, and are the same when they come home. I initially turned down this wonderful man, as I said I could not travel with having two horses and 2 doggos at home. Yet, I tried it and, to my surprise, all animals have superior accommodation whilst away and are fine.

It does mean that BH isn't making 'progress' as he could, but then I don't think he cares. We are doing the same stuff as we were 2 years ago, but he does feel stronger. I have 3 sets of people who do the livery, and they are all professionals and kind, and competent. I have BH who is confident wherever he lands, such as a camp at Somerford. Other horses may be kicking and whinnying; he simply settles.

So, I would say that as long as your horse has good provision, don't sweat it! Years ago, I would never have let my horses be on such a regime. I would have stressed that 'something' would go wrong. I was a control freak and didn't allow anyone else to even touch them. Now, I have professionals I trust and the horses probably actually gain from learning to move/settle and that everything is fine.
 
Thanks everyone, interesting to read all the replies! I feel a bit better now, his yard is wonderful and I know he is more than properly cared for.
I need to give myself a kick up the harris I think, half the reason I even work this much is so I can fund his comfortable lifestyle after all ;)
Balance has never been a forte of mine, I always try to spin too many plates and way too fast!
 
I'm not sure this is really a question of frequency but of dependence. When I switched from livery to DIY there seemed to be much more interraction from my horse - ie anticipating my arrival, not taking much notice of other liveries. In other words I was their "person" who met all their needs when I turned up so it was vital to them that I did so!! When feeding and turnout etc was done on livery they got used to being looked after by others and my arrival was just a vaguely interesting distraction - or the threat of work.

If they are happy with the service they are getting I am not sure who gives it is of that much importance to them - and who pays the bills is a total irrelevance!!!
 
My two lads are on DIY livery so I go twice a day (sometimes 3 times a day dependant on if I have a day off work or if it's a weekend - I'm incredibly lucky that my yard is a 20 minute walk from my house!), however when I had my now retired lad on part livery, I'd go up at least once a day and sometimes I would go up simply to help out the livery staff :)
 
I have my three at home, currently all unridden. They are at home at home at the minute, as in they're in my "garden" and coming in at night, so I'm seeing them multiple times a day. I'm planning to move them fields to one further in the village this evening. As it's my foal's first time further away from home, I will probably be checking them at least four times a day to start with and then hopefully relax back to 2-3 times a day. Before the foal was born, there were days when I didn't see them at all due to work and dad stepped in for the feeding and checking.
The horse I ride (but don't own) is on full livery and I normally see her about 4-5 times a week, nearly always to work her (I feel bad about that sometimes, but my own have to come first).
 
Retired and horse on full livery 5 minutes from home. I go every day, usually in the afternoon except for the rare occasion something comes up, such as medical appointment. Sometimes I have a morning mid-week lesson depending on my instructor's time, but I often go back later as well. To me the yard is as much a social outlet as a place to keep my horse, so I have to confess to there being times when I go there and don't actually see my horse! (Horse turned out in a paddock on the farm, me at the yard gossiping with the other liveries! ...... :oops:)
 
When I was on full livery I still saw them 7 days a week, unless I was away.
Even if it was just a 10 minute fuss and scratch, sometimes stopping by in a ball gown and heels, I would always see them daily.

Now they're at home, I go and see them 4-5 times a day and that doesn't include my time looking out of the window at them 😅
 
I'm on full livery and see them every day unless I am away with work which is usually a couple of days maybe twice a month plus, a long haul trip a couple of times a year.

I do about 90% if the riding and I go before work so even on days I'm not riding I just pop up and give them a net and a brush before the girls turn them out a little later.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
Thanks everyone, interesting to read all the replies! I feel a bit better now, his yard is wonderful and I know he is more than properly cared for.
I need to give myself a kick up the harris I think, half the reason I even work this much is so I can fund his comfortable lifestyle after all ;)
Balance has never been a forte of mine, I always try to spin too many plates and way too fast!
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I know exactly how you feel but then I think I'd be going a lot less if I burn out and crash. I love my job and it funds a nice life but it takes it out of me, I don't want to go back to not having a horse either though. I don't think D cares as long as she has her friends and her food she considers me superfluous.... Although we have discovered a good scratch spot now 😅
 
On full. Go most days unless I'm away or the roads are icy. Road to stables is hilly and ungritted and lethal so I stay away until it thaws. It takes a 4wd to get on the yard when it snows.
 
On DIY, so twice a day unless I have arranged cover with another DIYer at the yard. However I do spend a lot of time on jobs so quality time with my horse can sometimes be very lacking.

When I was on a yard that was mostly full livery some of the owners came up each day, but most came 3-4 times a week. The YM's care was generally excellent.
 
At home so again slightly different to the exact question. But in terms of spending time with them it’s twice a day. Morning checks, feed and they tend to mooch round with me while I poo pick. And evening they get a check, some fuss and a groom etc. Late evening/after dark will be a torch check from the yard. Sometimes at weekends they’ll come in for an extra groom or just some time giving extra attention (both are companion ponies).

Even if I’m working from home or at weekends if I’m outside doing yard or garden jobs I do tend to leave them to it the rest of the day. They live out and I like the fact that while they come when called, they don’t see me and automatically come to the gate and wait etc. I like the fact they’re not ‘waiting’ for me, so I never feel guilty if I’m late home.
 
I was on part livery before my two chose early retirement. Most weeks I'd be there five days, but plenty of times we'd be travelling at weekends or on holiday and so I went a bit less. The reason they were on part was I didn't have time to go every day.

No point going to be tired and grumpy with them and everyone around me!
 
On full livery because of unpredictable work hours, but about 300m from my front door as of 2wks ago. I see him pretty much every day unless I’m away or I finish work very late. I’m thinking of moving to part livery, but I need to talk to the YO about how flexible it would be as need him on full whenever I’m on call

When it was a bit more out of my way I’d usually see him 5-6 days a week. I think I enjoy my time much more, and it’s much better for my mental health if I don’t “have” to go every day. I don’t think you need to feel bad about it if you don’t see them every day, that’s what you’re paying someone else for! (Assuming you’re satisfied the livery yard is doing a good job and isn’t missing things)
 
Coblet has recently moved off a livery yard to a friends private home and land to live out 24/7 for his retirement. She feeds her 3 in the am so chucks coblet his bucket and will pull off a rug and then I go after work every day and do the evening feed and rug change if needed. It’s only been a fortnight so far but is working well.
 
On DIY with the farm on my door step, so twice a day or 3 if farrier etc on route 7 days a week. It is only if I have holiday then a friend takes over then then again when she is away I do hers. There are only a few on our place so we do for each other if accident, illness or holiday works well has done for over 20 years. Prior to that was on our family farm I have never had to travel etc. I would not feel bad it is just how life deals the cards and what you have to do.
 
I’m on full livery and aim for 4 days a week - sometimes manage more, sometimes I don’t get there that many! It is what it is and as long as I’m still getting something out of horse ownership then I’ll keep paying 😇☺️
 
I’m on full livery and average 5 times a week. If more, then the 6 or 7 day is for a groom only. If less, he just extra time off. I’ve just moved yards to one with more turnout, so I feel a lot less guilty if I can’t do a day as it just means more field time for him.
 
Hm, I guess it counts as part livery where I have my horse. He is turned in/out, stall mucked out and hayed and hard fed (well, just a token for him really, he is rather..um..plump) twice a day. The only thing I have to do is fill his water in the pasture, groom and ride. My work is 40 min away by car, I work full time mon-fri. The yard is 7 min away from home and I try to be there at least 5-6 times a week, but ride maybe 2-3 times of those. The last horse was injured and not ridden much, and in the end not at all and the new guy is just in the process of being backed.

I'm impressed by those of you who have your horse's 40 min - 1 hour away from you and still manage with work (+ commute) and family. Having horses is really a lifestyle, not a hobby.
 
Once a day, and if I can't make it for whatever reason I ask someone to look him over.
3.5yo unstarted cob on a herd turnout 24/7. DIY but no poo picking or anything. He's unrugged and gets a small token feed most days. Plenty of grazing year round.
I WFH and the paddock is about 20mins drive.
There's a large group of us visiting at various times thoughout the day so any issues gets picked up fairly quickly.
 

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Twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays, and bank holidays and once a day at other times.

He's on assisted DIY and the staff are good insomuch they feed, bring in/ turn out etc.
 
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