Is it fair to ride twice on the same day?

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Mitchyden

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This is a bit of a stupid question but my 5 y.o works six days a week and normally has a Wednesday off.

This week however she has had to have Monday off so needs to be ridden on Wednesday instead.

I have a half hour lesson on a Tuesday evening hence she would be working Tuesday evening until 7pm and then be ridden at 6am Wednesday morning. Less than 12 hrs apart.

Would it be fair to ride at 6am Tuesday morning then have a lesson in the evening? The time difference is about the same.

I know I could just give her two days off this week but I'd rather not as I'm fighting to get the weight off her and it's just beginning to budge!
 
I wouldn't have said it would be a problem, i wouldn't be doing really hard work.

I ride late on a Friday night and then really early on a Saturday. No problems.
 
Yes of course!

A half hour lesson is not long, and as long as you do something different or perhaps a bit less intense on the Weds morning it will be completely fine.

I presume she is not a very weak, babyish 5yr old?
 
Of course, as long as she is fit enough for the amount of work she'll be doing. I would quite happily ride any of ours for an hour, chuck back out in the field for 5/6 hours and then ride again in the afternoon - especially if I was trying to shift some weight off them! :)
 
Not a problem, though if the lesson is mentally demanding, keep the next session less intensive mentally or do something different ridden wise. Busy horses are better rides, though young horses especially need to enjoy variety.
 
Thanks everyone for the speedy responses!

I'm only planning to go for a hack for about an hour in the morning and will probably only walk. Her lessons are not too demanding and if she behaves herself it doesn't last the full half an hour so she should be ok.

It just sounds cruel riding her twice in one day as she's a youngster. I've done it loads of times on my older horse but only because she's a psycho and it helps with her head!!!
 
Sounds fine to me :) She might give you a "what the heck mother, have you forgotten we've already done this today" look, but I don't think it'll do her any harm at all.
 
Have schooled (flat work) for an hour on a Friday evening and hunted on Saturday, no ill effects for the horse...............I on the other hand was unable to move on Sunday! :eek:
 
*waits for public flogging*

I have just taken on a horse that is soooo obese I am working him 3 times a day.

20mins lunge at 7am - Walk and trot only
Lunchtime hack of around 45mins - Walk, trot and a small canter
20 mins lunge PM.

It is doing him no harm whatsoever!
 
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