Working Horse Twice a Day

[Fence.Hopper]

Does anyone (or has anyone) worked their horse twice a day semi consistently? Was it beneficial/ would you do it again?

Working would be an in hand/ on the ground session + a ride. Horse is a green 6 year old OTTB, no soundness or other health issues, gets half a day turnout (sometimes all day). The goal is partly to incorporate more low impact fitness work (walking hills, walking cavaletti, and other in hand exercises) and partly to get more experience. Our rides are short and focus on very elementary things currently such as moving off of the leg, incorporating some bend, seat aids, etc. On two a days, we would do one in hand session and one ridden session. Two a days would happen maybe twice a week due to my schedule.

[endlessclimb]

I’ve used two a days to prep a horse quicker for an event, and also for extremely (and I mean extremely) fractious younger (5-6yo) horses to try and get them over the hump. A very young horse (2-4yo) I have not ever found the two a day to help with.

I don’t have a problem at all with it, so long as both workouts are not hard work. I think it helps get them “there” quicker.

[mmeqcenter]

I’ve only ever done it for conditioning purposes, not training/learning purposes. But I don’t see any issues with it, if both sessions aren’t too stressful for the horse, mentally and physically.
When I did it for conditioning, one of the two rides was an hour just walking.

[beowulf]

Low impact work is fine, but keep in mind when they are worked twice a day they may not recover from small micro-tears or injuries, including their back - so make sure that saddle fits if it’s riding work.

I’ve done several boot camps and/or off property camp sessions where we had two (hard) lessons a day - I found them tremendously helpful and at times, progressed much more than I think I would having the equivalent amount of hours spread out over one session a day at home. For some horses it can be very beneficial – short term.

It would be more beneficial from your horse’s standpoint to get him out on 24/7 turnout, if you want more low impact fitness work, nothing is better than turnout.

[exvet]

I had an appendix quarter horse that I did ride twice a day to improve his stamina. The mornings I would work on the flat or over fences alternating the focus. In the afternoons I would just breeze him gradually building him up to longer and longer sessions. It did work well but then I had a VERY FIT HORSE to manage. I was young and was able to do it but it can be a ‘be careful what you wish for’ situation.

[jvanrens]

I shudder at the idea of my appendix mare’s stamina improving even if she is 31 years old and long since retired. She was a mix of TB and ranch horse that could go forever.

[beau159]

@Fence.Hopper

Does anyone (or has anyone) worked their horse twice a day semi consistently? Was it beneficial/ would you do it again?

Working would be an in hand/ on the ground session + a ride. Horse is a green 6 year old OTTB, no soundness or other health issues, gets half a day turnout (sometimes all day). The goal is partly to incorporate more low impact fitness work (walking hills, walking cavaletti, and other in hand exercises) and partly to get more experience. Our rides are short and focus on very elementary things currently such as moving off of the leg, incorporating some bend, seat aids, etc. On two a days, we would do one in hand session and one ridden session. Two a days would happen maybe twice a week due to my schedule.

Ranch horses work all day.

A “short” ride twice a day isn’t going to hurt yours.

[spurofthemoment]

Not quite the same situation, but I work my horse every single day (same age and breed as yours) and his rideability transformation was like night and day. He’s a much better horse when he works (it’s not all ridden, it’s not all high intensity and it’s not all ring work, so I also think variety is key). I think consistent work benefits most horses.

When folks go to horse shows (at least hunter folks), they tend to school and compete, and some even lunge. I think that certainly counts as being worked twice a day.

[DiamondJubilee]

Lots of great points on here! A reiner training barn near me will ride someones horse every day (5 days in a row) and then if the owner comes up, they also get a lesson on their horse. So they could be easily ridden 2 x day for several days. Their thoughts are they could be ridden 2 x a day at a show, so why not at home as well.

I tend to ride my guys just once a day at home (mainly a time thing - I work full time, have 5 ponies at home so do stalls and then whatever leftover time I have I pick one to work). But I had my young 5 year old at his first hunter show and I would ring ride him at 6am so he could see the ring we would be jumping in later on that day, and then show him through the day. So he was ridden 2 x day without any issues (I made sure he would get back to his stall inbetween for a break/snack/pee/drink).

Just remember the more you work them, the fitter they get. If you can do longer turnout, that is always best! My guys are out 14-16hr/day right now and sometimes 24hr if the weather is good. I love long turnout but know its not always possible when you board out (mine are all at home right now).

[cilla1]

I, as an appendice owner, was thinking exactly the same thing! Lol