You’ve just brought your new horse home, and you can’t wait to ride every single day. Sound familiar? It’s completely normal to be excited and eager to bond in the saddle. But as tempting as it is to ride constantly, it’s important to consider what’s best for your horse’s health, fitness level, and mindset. So how often should you ride your horse? Let’s break it down.
The Short Answer
On average, most horses can be ridden 3 to 5 times per week, depending on their age, fitness, temperament, and overall health. Some thrive on daily work, while others do better with rest days in between. The key is finding a rhythm that suits both you and your horse mentally and physically.
Consider Your Horse’s Age and Condition
Young horses (under 5 years old) are still growing, so you don’t want to stress their joints, bones, and minds. Keep riding sessions short (20-30 minutes) and not necessarily daily. Focus on low-intensity but consistent work.
Senior horses are often perfectly rideable and active well into their 20s. In fact, appropriate exercise can help them maintain fitness, mobility, and muscle tone. Older horses might just need more rest days or lighter exercise depending on their health.
Fit horses accustomed to regular exercise (think competition horses or active trail mounts) might be ridden 5-6 days a week with one day of rest or turnout. But even horses in top shape need variety to prevent burnout.
Horses that are out of shape or just starting a new routine should be brought back into work gradually. Start with 15-20-minute sessions a few times per week. Build up exercise intensity over 6-8 weeks as the horse’s stamina increases.
What Type of Riding Are You Doing?
The kind of riding you do makes a difference in how often your horse should be worked.
- Trail rides or light hacks: These easy and low-impact workouts can often be done more frequently.
- Schooling sessions: Balance these more intense mental and physical efforts with lighter days or rest.
- Jumping, dressage, or eventing training: While demands vary by horse and rider, structured plans typically include 1-2 hard training days, 2-3 lighter days, and 1 rest day per week.
Mixing things up helps prevent overuse injuries and keeps your horse interested in his job. Like us, horses appreciate a little variety.
Listen to Your Horse
Your horse’s behavior is a good indicator of how well the riding schedule is working. Look for signs of:
- Fatigue: Sluggishness, stiffness, or reluctance to move forward.
- Irritability: Pinning ears, resistance when tacking up, or a change in attitude.
- Injuries: Heat, swelling, or soreness after rides.
If your horse seems grumpy or uncomfortable, it might be time to add more rest days, shorten rides, or switch up your routine.
Researchers have also recently found that the number of days ridden per week can increase a horse’s risk of developing gastric ulcers. They suggest providing 2-3 rest days per week to reduce that risk.
Sample Weekly Riding Schedule (for a Pleasure Horse)
| Day | Activity |
| Monday | Light schooling (flatwork) |
| Tuesday | Trail ride or longe |
| Wednesday | Rest or turnout day |
| Thursday | Schooling (more intense) |
| Friday | Light ride or groundwork |
| Saturday | Trail ride or lesson |
| Sunday | Rest or light walk ride |
Adjust based on your horse’s needs, your availability, and weather conditions. Flexibility is part of good horsemanship.
Take-Home Message
How often you ride your horse depends on a mix of factors: age, fitness, training level, and health. As a general rule, aim for 3 to 5 rides per week with at least one rest day. More important than maintaining a strict schedule is monitoring your horse’s physical and mental well-being.
Remember, any time spent with your horse—grooming, hand-walking, or just hanging out—is as valuable as time spent in the saddle.
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