Leading a horse on a bike for fitness?

[grandprixer]

Hello all. This might be a dumb idea but I have to ask.

It’s been so wet here. So wet. The arena hasn’t been dry for months. But the first shows start in March. I’ve only been able to ride weekends, when there’s other people to ride on the roads with me. My horse is mostly behaved but has a thing about cows, so I don’t ride alone. I need to ride more to get him fit though.

He’s okay with cows on the ground, but not under saddle. Nothing else has spooked him on the road yet. Is it totally dumb to take him for long walks or trots by bike, if I can’t ride? He leads beside bikes well, and has very good manners. I’m desperate to get some muscle on him.

TIA!

[cattywampus]

After a few close call SQUIRREL! moments bike-joring with my 50 lb dogs, my first thought is oh, HELL no, but I don’t bounce as well as I did in my teens and twenties, and have grown cautious in my middle years.

20, 30 years ago, I might have tried it if it occurred to me.

[Libby2563]

I’m sure people have done that and not died, but I personally wouldn’t risk it. Just seems like too much could go wrong…

[Gainer]

I’m with everyone else…sounds like a really bad idea. I just had my 29 y.o. been there, done that former show horse do a big spook because the barn cat jumped out of a pile of leaves. I can’t imagine what would have happened if I’d been on a bike.

[Arlomine]

This is exactly something that would seem like a great idea until the moment your horse spooks, yanks you off your bike and you are dragged flat on your stomach on pavement until you let go of the rope and he is hit by a car, whose shocked little old lady driver is killed by your horse’s body slamming into her windshield, followed by the car spinning out and running over your prone body.

[grandprixer]

Sounds like what I expected. Any tips on getting a horse fit if I can only ride once a week? Or am I doomed lol? I might still try the bike thing on a small very quiet section of road, but maybe not everywhere.

[Scribbler]

Go jogging with him?

[furlong47]

Hike/walk/run on foot leading him, or borrow another horse and pony him?

[lenapesadie]

Golf cart? Better with a second person to drive though

[grandprixer]

Will add that I am disabled, walking is not an option 😂 biking is my limit. No access to golf cart or horse to pony off of.

[Redlei44]

Can you board somewhere with an indoor for a month or two until the arena is in better shape?

[leighbo009]

So I have… A different perspective from everyone else. But I did it in a fenced area, so that I didn’t have to worry if he spooked, I would just let go of the rope. And hoped that he didn’t spook onto me and the bike. I am not sure I would do it not in a fenced area, unless it was a very very quite road someways away from traffic. If it was a back road, with no traffic, and most likely no chance of him getting too far away I may attempt.

[beowulf]

This is exactly the stupid idea I did in my early twenties when I didn’t have a ring. I survived, horse survived, but I would never tempt fate like that again. :lol:

If you are limited in your access to getting out to the barn, and need him fit, keep him out 24/7 – and pay for someone to exercise ride him once or twice a week.

There’s better options than biking with a horse. Ponying from an ATV, golf-cart (something stable so if the horse bolts you won’t end in the dirt), another horse…

The last two years I’ve been trying to better my stamina for hockey… I’ve taken to jogging my horses up and down our dirt driveway before riding them. It’s great cardio for me and them, and it also makes them very mannered - I joke we could always win the jog at formal inspections - none of those naughty antics you see from others!

[kashmere]

Does your mobility allow you to use a scooter? They make some pretty amazing/sturdy 3-wheel scooters (sometimes with seats as well) that might be a little safer and more stable than a bike.

[Sswor]

Wait until it dries up and you can ride. There’s always another horse show.

[Pokerface]

Does your mobility allow you to lunge? I’d be much more comfortable with lunging than biking, less work for you and more work for the horse. Biking scares me even with the most reliable horse.

[merrygoround]

@Arlomine

This is exactly something that would seem like a great idea until the moment your horse spooks, yanks you off your bike and you are dragged flat on your stomach on pavement until you let go of the rope and he is hit by a car, whose shocked little old lady driver is killed by your horse’s body slamming into her windshield, followed by the car spinning out and running over your prone body.

Gotta love you! This is a most complete scenario.

I have seen an ATV used but only in an enclosed field, they have 4 wheels, are very heavy , but still a H**** raising horse is hard to hang onto.

[firecracker]

I’ve never tried this and I’m not sure I ever would…

… but I have seen a horse led from a bicycle successfully. There’s a gentleman at combined driving competitions that will often lead his horse while riding his bicycle. I’ve only seen this in passing and I never asked about it, so I’m not sure if he exercises the horse extensively in this way or if he just does it to stretch the horse’s legs a bit at competitions. Either way, the horse appears to lead just fine. I was amazed the first time I saw it!

[grandprixer]

@Pokerface

Does your mobility allow you to lunge? I’d be much more comfortable with lunging than biking, less work for you and more work for the horse. Biking scares me even with the most reliable horse.

That’s a good idea, if we had somewhere to lunge. If I could lunge, I’d be riding. No access to atv, golf cart, etc. Could prolly use my car, but I feel like that’s an even worse idea. Guess we’re just doomed.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

@grandprixer

Sounds like what I expected. Any tips on getting a horse fit if I can only ride once a week? Or am I doomed lol? I might still try the bike thing on a small very quiet section of road, but maybe not everywhere.

why bike? (Bad idea IMO)…put on your jogging shoes and take him in hand.

eta…never mind. Saw that isn’t an option. I’d just wait until you can ride. There is always another show. Bike is just not safe.