Okay to not ride the "companion"?

[SugarCubes]

Something I’ve been pondering lately…

I bought a pony as a companion for my other horse a couple of years ago. He was between 7-8 at the time and had maybe been sat on once or twice. He’s half-gaited, which isn’t my thing, so I’ve never had a real desire to ride him, but felt that he needed some solid training regardless.

The first year I had him we worked on all the basics, he learned to tie and lead, bathe, stand for farrier, load, etc. We also did a lot of groundwork since he can be pushy.

The second year, he was in full training for three months and then I began to lesson on him. I never really enjoyed riding him, he remained super herd-bound and spooky/nervous, although he did make progress each ride (super smart pony). I also took him on a few trail rides, which was probably the best he’s ever been and he seemed to enjoy way more than being in the arena.

I’m at a point now that I really have to “make” myself ride him. I don’t love riding him, but his lightbulb moments do make it somewhat worth it. I love this pony, and he is a fantastic companion to my other horse.

Ideally, I would let him live just as a companion and hop on him once or twice a month for a trail ride…but I feel guilty like I NEED to be riding him. Fortunately, he is the type you can ride after a month of sitting and he’ll be the same old pony.

So my question - is there anything wrong with letting him “just” be a companion? I think the fact that he sat for 7-8 years without having a job is always going to be somewhat of an issue…thoughts?

[joiedevie99]

Nope! I think you’ve done everything that should be done with a healthy companion horse - i.e. made sure he has enough life skills to be re-homed safely if your situation changes. It sounds like he has good ground manners, and is broke to ride.

[Alexie]

It wouldn’t worry me, as long as all his basic needs are met - food, water, shelter, company, foot care, worming, regular checking and so on, I’d be happy. Lots of cuddles too if he likes them. The odd grooming session. The only downside would be if you needed to sell him for whatever reason, in which case I’d consider putting to sleep unless I found him a brilliant home. But I’d be like that with any of them, I’m very protective and they stay with me for life, well into old age.

[findeight]

You have given him more then most would by installing manners and getting some training on him, If you could ask the Pony if they prefer being ridden or just hanging out, what do you think the answer would be? Your self guilt is undeserved and don’t let anybody else tell you otherwise.

[ici_et_la]

We have companion horses we don’t ride, I don’t lose any sleep over it and they don’t either. Enjoy him when and how you want. Not everyone can justify a companion horse/pony so feel good within yourself that he’s got a safe loving home with you. I take pride in the fact I can keep a couple “extras” just enjoying their days in leisure. They owe me nothing and it brings me great pleasure knowing they are safely here with me for life.

[longlanefarm]

Nice to hear these comments. I have an older companion horse…who a few months back unexpectedly turned into my only horse Until I’m ready for my next riding horse, I plan to focus on her for a bit, revisit manners and ground work in hopes to lightly and casually ride her again. She’s 21 but in great shape.
Before the death of my horse, the companion mare was just a pasture puff pulled from a slaughter pen and I felt SUCH guilt about not making as much time for her as I did my young mare.
This puts it in perspective from her point of view. She’s well cared for, loved, and probably prefers her life of leisure.

[SugarCubes]

@findeight

You have given him more then most would by installing manners and getting some training on him, If you could ask the Pony if they prefer being ridden or just hanging out, what do you think the answer would be? Your self guilt is undeserved and don’t let anybody else tell you otherwise.

Great point F8!!

THANK YOU ALL - I’ve been feeling so guilty lately and it’s nice to hear that there’s nothing wrong with letting him enjoy a pampered life of laziness :lol: He really is the perfect companion…best friends with my horse, air fern, awesome feet, and an in-your-pocket personality to boot!

He’s adorably cute and I love him like a pet, so he has a forever home with me, but I wanted to be certain he also had some good training in case anything unexpected were to happen so he wouldn’t end up in a bad spot.

I’ve been feeling stressed and guilty lately about him (my other horse has been lame which has put more pressure on me to do something with the pony) so it’s such a relief to hear your thoughtful responses.

[ParadoxFarm]

Sugar, do not worry about him. I bet he LOVES his life being a companion. Give him some hands-on attention since he seems to enjoy it, but don’t worry about riding. Once you decide it’s okay, you will feel much relieved I think.

[SugarCubes]

@ParadoxFarm

Sugar, do not worry about him. I bet he LOVES his life being a companion. Give him some hands-on attention since he seems to enjoy it, but don’t worry about riding. Once you decide it’s okay, you will feel much relieved I think.

Thanks, PF! Considering you’ve followed our journey since the beginning, hearing you say that definitely gives me peace of mind. As much as I love him, I don’t love riding him…and I’m beginning to realize that’s okay

[ParadoxFarm]

@SugarCubes

Thanks, PF! Considering you’ve followed our journey since the beginning, hearing you say that definitely gives me peace of mind. As much as I love him, I don’t love riding him…and I’m beginning to realize that’s okay

Good!

[eponacelt]

I have a pony who’s lived with me for about 8 years now. In all that time, I think he’s been actually ridden by me twice, and for about 6 months, he had a little girl who rode once or twice a month. And he’s given 4 kids walking pony rides. All that in 8 years.

You know what? He’s a happy, delightful pony and a great companion to my mare. That is his job, and I’m OK with it. He too, is fine with this scenario, given that he is a typical fat pony who would rather eat than do anything else.

As long as he can be handled and is safe to be around in the barn, then I think you’re perfectly OK not doing anything else with him.

[spacytracy]

The only thing I will add is, I would continue to casually ride him here and there, just in the rare instance that you would have to rehome him (because lets be honest, it could happen to any of us), that he has some useful skills. A companion horse is a dime a dozen, and being rideable is a huge advantage to finding a good home.

[Hulk]

I bought a gelding to compete, well he didn’t like to work, at all. What he did like to do is stand around all day being pet by children, and fed carrots. Best and most sweetest creature you would ever know. I just didn’t have the heart to make him work for his care the way I intended. So instead of pushing him I let him be the cozy packer he wanted to be. You could put any one on him, any time and go anywhere and he took care of them, no matter how beginner they were. He usually was only ridden a handful of times a year. Never needed lunged, never stepped a foot out of place, but never wanted to compete. So I kept him the way he wished to live.

One of the best guys we ever had here at the farm. I never felt any guilt for his easy peasy way of life. He earned it by just being a great guy. And I never worried about placing him if need be, I hand plenty of substantial offers on a regular basis. Everyone knew what a great guy he was.

[HungarianHippo]

My companion horse is a 10/o (11? I always lose track of their ages and have to check papers :D) KWPN/ISH cross who has schooled to 2nd level dressage. Very talented mare but she wasn’t happy working at that level and was showing some arthritic changes so her owner kindly retired her to my farm. I’ve ridden her only sporadically and nothing ambitious – just light WTC and pop over a log now and then. And she’s happy as a clam. I do handle her daily and make sure she maintains excellent manners, but feel zero compulsion to ‘do more’ just for the sake of giving her equal time vs my main riding horse.

[beau159]

@SugarCubes

Ideally, I would let him live just as a companion and hop on him once or twice a month for a trail ride…but I feel guilty like I NEED to be riding him.

So my question - is there anything wrong with letting him “just” be a companion?

Sounds like he’s perfectly happy being a companion animal. So there is nothing wrong with letting him be a companion animal.

Tell your guilt to go away!

[Texarkana]

Oh snap, you’re supposed to ride your companion horses? I have 4 useless companions and 1 riding horse. Oops. :lol:

But seriously, he’s your horse. You can do whatever you want with him. A lot of people only see “value” or “purpose” in horses if they can be ridden. I’ve never understood that mindset; I enjoy being around horses with or without riding. If you told me I could never ride again, I’d still own horses. But I digress. Yet your pony is indeed serving a purpose without you riding him; he’s a companion to give your riding horse a healthier lifestyle. While there is the odd horse who enjoys the enrichment of riding, most of them are more than happy to just do their own horsey thing, or can be sufficiently enriched with human interaction from the ground (feeding, grooming, etc.).

My only question would be does he receive sufficient turnout to stretch his legs and keep himself exercised?

[SugarCubes]

@spacytracy

The only thing I will add is, I would continue to casually ride him here and there, just in the rare instance that you would have to rehome him (because lets be honest, it could happen to any of us), that he has some useful skills. A companion horse is a dime a dozen, and being rideable is a huge advantage to finding a good home.

I totally agree with you on that! Even when I wasn’t consistently riding him this past fall, I would at least take him on a hack around the property once or twice a month. He’s great bareback, so I often just hop on him and mosey around too.

@Texarkana Yes! He’s out about 8 hours a day and if he is stuck in due to weather I make sure to ride or lunge him.

It’s awesome to read about so many of your companion horses too, thank you all for sharing your stories and experiences

[Gainer]

I have four companion horses and I guarantee they would be highly annoyed if I ever asked them to actually work. All their pasture/food/shelter/farrier/vet/treats needs are take care of, so they really have nothing to complain about.

[anon40672407]

My only thought is, what would be his future if you got out of horses for some reason?

If he is rideable, good training is rarely a waste. Find someone else who will ride him occasionally, do the world a favor. Plus, he gets the riding that would make him marketable if something (heaven forbid) were to happen to you.

From his point of view, no riding is needed.