Riding horse twice in a day?

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only_me

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Do many of you ride your horse more than once a day at home?

Just curious as I rode my horse this morning (flatwork) for approx an hour and am now having a jump lesson this evening on same horse which wasn't planned. My instructor rang me to say could fit me in as had cancellation which is fab, he is away rest of week at an international so only time that suits us both! I know my horse will be fine and may be a bit more tired tomorrow lol.

But do many of you ride your horse more than once a day at home? :)
 
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On a long endurance ride I could find myself doing 5 or more loops! I don't tend to ride more than once a day in training though.

As long as your horse is fit enough then why not.
 
I wouldn't do it at home, for some reason I would feel a bit mean! but technically at a show...if there is lots of time between classes or phases then the horse is being ridden more than once that day ;)

ETA I took her twice round a fun ride once. With different friends, on different horses. She was still pulling at the end, so was clearly up to it! :D
 
Haven't you ever been to Pony Club, or a show? Horses work all day sometimes, with suitable breaks. How about at a show, with classes in the morning, afternoon and Championship in the evening?
 
I dont on a regular basis but occasionally if we have 'pony camp' or an all day clinic (ride am then some theory or watching others/break for lunch then ride again pm). I have to say though, a couple of times when I have got on board for the second time I can almost sense the vibes of 'what on earth is going on, I have done my work for the day - no one said anything about working overtime...." coming from my poor put upon steed! He's never felt tired though, often the opposite; quicker to warm up/soften etc on the second session.
 
My share horse will be going to show with his owner on sunday morning and then straight to a dressage comp with me. Not ideal but she doesn't get to do fun things with him very often and I'm in a team and can't pull out and let my team mates down so needs must! He'll cope and will get an extra day off to make up for it
 
Orangehorse said:
Haven't you ever been to Pony Club, or a show? Horses work all day sometimes, with suitable breaks. How about at a show, with classes in the morning, afternoon and Championship in the evening?
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Of course I have! I event, also do dressage where normally do 2 tests a day. I worked as a safari rider where horses are out all day.

I'm asking if many people ride twice at home. This doesn't seem to be common around here.
 
Yes, when the ponies are getting fit for polo, and when they are at peak fitness we would take them out in the mornings for their 'serious' work, and then for a more relaxed hack in the afternoon. I think it's quite normal in the polo world :)
 
Yes, quite often ride twice in one day, but it is normally when I have done something more serious n the morning and then gone for a short relaxed hack in the afternoon. It helps our weight management programme and she always enjoys it. If she was showing signs of lethargy I would never push her for a second ride
 
Occasionally I would allow my mare to take someone's non horsey friend/family member on a short pootle about on a day when I would also be riding her on a slightly longer, faster pootle about but not too often.
 
not very often... but if i can fit it in i'll ride in a morn then on an eve. May only be once a month though- or less!

My horses certainly don't seem to mind :D
 
Yes when one of mine was getting fit after a lami attack caused by EMS. Vet wanted him fit before he was out on grass so it was twice a day bring ridden.
 
Of course I have ,horses that where eventing seriously got hacked and worked most days .
Fatty did when he was on his epic diet .
And anything that's not toeing the line gets worked twice if I think it will help.
 
As a teen my poor pony was ridden twice a day every weekend and school holiday. My poor horse was as well for about 3 years. Didn't seem to bother either of them. Still have the same poor horse. But I don't get the blinkin' time to ride him twice a day!
 
My horse needs hard work the day before an event, so mum will take her out for a hack in the morning while I'm at work and then I will school her when I get home.
 
I often do!
Fittening and pracice for am event.
We often do flatwork one end of the day and jumping the other.

As long as horse is well cared for, rested and fed accordly I can't see a problem with it.
 
I've been trying to exercise mine twice a day to help with his pssm (and his weight!), to be honest it's me that gets tired! I'm struggling to keep up the routine around my job. He's out on a track system at the moment so I've taken the pressure off myself a bit. If I had the time and the facilities to keep it interesting is probably ride him twice a lot more often!
 
I don't see it as a problem, if pony/horse sound and reasonably fit. My friend and I used to ride our ponies/horses off their summer field, possibly for 4-5 hours a day in the holidays. They were very fit, and lived to a ripe old age. Very well behaved as well, as they were working. I'm sure there are a lot of so called problem horses that would be better behaved if exercised a bit more.
 
I have done just what you are doing occasionally. Gone for a hack and then had a lesson later, I have also hacked out in the afternoon after a morning show.
 
Only at camp, which would take the form of intense rides. I raaarely do it at home, only if I have already ridden and then someone asks me to accompany e.g. a baby on a hack. I have several horses to play with, however, so usually have the problem of fitting them all in rather than riding twice. I think it's fine. My horses have never looked too surprised when it's happened. Have a great jump lesson!
 
I don't ever have time to...

But was advised to try it years ago when a particular horse was young and instructor then suggested 2 x short simple sessions in the day keeping the session fairly short and sweet. Purely from a concentration point of view and avoiding 'losing' them.

Never got to do it. Simply never had time to!

Did work at riding school years ago too and obviously the school ponies would definitely do several lessons/ hacks combo at weekend and were fit and happy.
 
God no, far too exhausting. I sometimes ride 2 a day, that is quite enough.
I will happily ride morning & afternoon at a camp or whatever, but my horse would be outraged at being bothered twice a day. My son's horse would be thrilled, but he's a girly swot.
 
I have done it before, say, if I had been out on my own in the morning for a short ride and someone saw me later and wanted company to hack out I would go out again sometimes. Also if I found out something interesting is happening later (local ride/show on) I'd tack up and go out again, to check it out. Pony never looked too affronted at the second tacking up!
But generally I'm done after one ride! Simply would not have time in the week.
Once a week on my day off I do a 'proper hack' (as I call it) where I am out wandering most of the day with my screwed up bit of map, I tend to get back at like 5pm there's no way I could be bothered to ride again after that, it's tea time and I'm all hacked-out!
 
Not very often as I don't get the time but wouldn't have a problem doing so! They get enough chill out time in the field so 2 or 3 hours of work is hardly unfair :)
 
When I lived in the Welsh hills, my horse was my only transport for a few years. He used to take me to work and back, to the village to shop, and to see friends at the week-end, so he was regularly worked several times a day. He would also bring the firewood in with the cart when needed. In the four years we did this, I never once had to call the vet!

I have also ridden an opinionated youngster twice a day if I felt he needed it.
 
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