You don't have to ride your horse!

You don't have to ride your horse!

How often do you see posts from people who are selling their horse because it can't be ridden? Or need ideas of how to spend time with their horse because it is recovering from an injury and can't be ridden? So many people feel that the only reason to have a horse is to ride it. If they compete in a sport and the horse is not competitive enough, they look for a new horse that will help them place better or win. If you have your horse for the sole purpose of competing to win in a sport, that relegates the horse to sports equipment.

I was a harness racehorse groom from age 10 through college. I loved being a groom. We had 8-12 horses in the barn in training at any given time. It was wonderful caring for these horses day in, day out, all day long in the summer, during school vacations, and after school. I loved those horses, they were connected to me, I knew them, I knew their normal, and when things were off. Most I had known since they were foals. These were non-ridden horses. They were driven. In addition to the horses in training, there were broodmares, foals, and yearlings. Caring for horses is the number one thing that you do with horses. My father is an equine vet specializing in lameness issues; my best childhood memories were going on calls with him and helping in the clinic. I don't think my father has ever sat on a horse. He owns horses and cares for them, but doesn't ride. The point is, to me, it is normal to have non-ridden horses in your life. Some horses are ridden and some are not. If anything, the time on the ground is more important than the time spent riding. (FYI - I am no longer a fan of horse sports that do not put the horse first, but am grateful for what those horses taught me and gave me.)

Riding is not the only thing, or the most important thing, to do with your horse. A horse is much more than a vehicle to carry you; having a horse makes you responsible for that animal's physical, emotional, and mental well-being - this requires more than a focus on riding.

A horse can be a companion animal that you enjoy being with for the sake of the relationship you have with your horse, just as you would with a dog or a cat. It is okay to have a horse and enjoy spending non-ridden time with it. It is okay to have a horse just because you enjoy spending time with it sans riding. It is okay to have a horse and care for it because that is what you most enjoy. It is okay to have a horse and give it a safe and happy life because you love looking at such a beautiful animal.

A horse has the potential to live for 30+ years. Certainly, all of that time will not be spent as a mount. You should have ways to enjoy being with your horse that enrich your horse's life as well as yours, other than riding.

Riding should not be how you spend the most time with your horse. All horses benefit physically and mentally from ground work. Your connection and communication with your horse will improve with in-hand or liberty work. Groundwork improves your mounted work and should make up, I think, at least 30% of your training time.

Many horses should not be ridden for physical reasons. Even if a vet cannot pinpoint a physical reason based on diagnostics, there may be obvious signs that horse should not be ridden. The cause of these signs may not be known until an autopsy. If your horse shows signs of distress when being ridden, accept that riding may not be in the best interest of that horse.

Some people don't enjoy riding. Some people cannot ride for health reasons, this should not prohibit them from enjoying having a horse. Others may not want to commit to doing the work that it takes to become a good rider. If you choose to ride, you need to become the best rider that you can be for the sake of your horse. This is a lifelong pursuit. You will always be trying to improve.

There are many ways to enjoy your horse beyond riding - you may even compete. There are in-hand classes of all sorts - virtual and in-person. You may do obstacles, agility, liberty, halter, showmanship, drive your horse, and more.

Just spend time with your horse, taking care of it and bonding with it; this is the most important thing to do with your horse. People do not spend enough time with their horses. Often, this is because they think the reason to have a horse is to ride it. What else would you be doing with your horse if you aren't riding, getting ready to ride, or finishing your ride? If you don't feel like riding today, then you may think there is no reason to go to the barn. Obviously, your horse has a need for attention and care that goes beyond being ridden.

Enjoy the time you have with this wonderful animal. It is an incredible privilege to have a horse in your life. If you haven't already, expand your horizons beyond riding as the sole focus of having a horse. Your horse will thank you.