07/24/2025
This is exactly how I operate, although I probably don’t even ride them that often!
: My general, broad strokes rule is that 3️⃣ year old horses work three days a week, 4️⃣ year olds four days, 5️⃣ year olds five, and 6️⃣+ six. What is up to me is what constitutes “work.” If I get on a horse (of any age!) and they feel like melted ice cream, it might be a day to go for a hack, or do mounting block practice, or work on trailer loading. When I have a youngster who is going through a sulky-to-the-leg stage (and yes yes yes I’ve ruled out all physical things), “work” might be me tacking up, mounting, walking off a bit, asking the horse to trot ten strides, giving big pats and dismounting, and then repeating that process a few different times during the day. It teaches him that being willing to work with me means shorter rides and more snacks, without having to drill on and on.
“Work” can be whatever we want it to be. And since developing healthy, happy upper level horses is very much a marathon and not a sprint, it’s less about the work on the day and more about the consistency and clarity of work over time 🙌
