flatback_frannie

We've decided to take an extended vacation this summer and I'm going to be gone for about 5 weeks from my horse. The people who board her will do her stable care for me, but they don't have time to ride her, just let her out to the pasture. Does she need the exercise riding brings, or will she be fine with just fresh air and freedom?

dreamer

Can you find a caregiver that can give her more time and excercise? It would be best to give her the attention she's used to. If you can't though, make sure she has plenty of toys to entertain her. Also, if you can find a companion animal, another horse, or a sheep or llama, anything to give her company. She'd be a lot happier.

flatback_frannie

Thanks. She will be out with the other horses in the stable, who she is used to and plays with. But I ride her 3-5 times a week during the warmer months, so she's used to a bit more human contact than that. I wonder how I'd go about finding someone to ride her.

Snap

There are thousands of horse-crazy teenagers out there that wish they had a horse of their own, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind spending some time with your horse, especially if you could give them a little money for their time.

dappledear

While its not optimum to just let her languish for the time you're gone, by your description of riding 3-5 times weekly during the warmer months I presume you ride less when its cold? This could just mean she gets back to harder work a bit later in the year than normal. If she were hurt she would get less riding. If you don't know anyone you can trust to exercise her she should be just fine.

babs

I think she would be fine as well and I wouldn't trust just anyone to ride my horse unless I knew them personally. I know teens love horses but unless they are qualified I don't think I could do it and feel safe about it all.

flatback_frannie

Right, that's my concern with having a teen ride her. Inexperience and I don't want to get sued if something happens (or have the land owner get sued). I wish I knew someone who was looking to ride... maybe I'll post a message to our mom's group. Who knows, one of the mom's might want to do some riding and I don't even know it!

Estelle

I would think that someone that you know, a friend, would want to do this. It's not just teens, there are so many people who love horses and can't afford them that I think you should be able to find a free sitter pretty easy.

lynzi

Its also possible you could find a local person that is trained to help look over the horse and then just end up paying a (hopefully) small fee to have them come out and ride the horse, of course having some type of waiver signed as well for injuries/whatnot.