How Often Should I Ride My Horse?

[e47equestrian]

I am currently full-leasing a lesson horse at my barn, and I was wondering how many days I should ride him in order to get him in shape? He is an older quarter horse, and I do jumping with him. He has moderate energy everyday no matter how much I ride him. My current schedule is this:

Sunday: Day off, just walking while lunging since he is still learning
Monday: 1 hour jumping lesson
Tuesday: Day off
Wednesday: Flatwork, not too intense but not super light either
Thursday: depending on school, day off or sometimes light hack
Friday: day off since I work right after school
Saturday: same as Wednesday

Also, keep in mind I am not allowed to jump unless I am in a lesson so I can only do flatwork Tuesday through Sunday. Any advice will be helpful!! Thanks!!

[findeight]

That’s probably fine. An older QH out of a lesson program probably does not need much more. 3-4 days is probably good unless you are jumping higher fences or something.

[e47equestrian]

@findeight

That’s probably fine. An older QH out of a lesson program probably does not need much more. 3-4 days is probably good unless you are jumping higher fences or something.

Okay!! Thank you so much!

[furlong47]

If he was being used regularly in a lesson program before you started leasing, he is probably already in decent shape/fitness for the level of work he’s being asked to do and just needs to maintain that. The schedule you are doing sounds ok with 3-5 days of work, some lighter and some more intense, and a decent variety. If I added anything it might be another trail ride/hack day.

[candyappy]

He might appreciate several rides outside of the arena each week. You don’t have to work him extra hard or anything, but it gives him a break from the norm. Great way to keep him fit .

[Magicboy]

I’d go for a hack one day just to give him an interesting day