How much exercise does a horse need? Do they need to be ridden on a regular basis? Or does running around in a pasture provide them with enough exercise?

How much exercise do you need? It depends. If you are going to run a very long race, you should exercise everyday. Same with a horse. If you're going to be competing with your horse, you should work with them almost everyday. It builds their muscles and makes them look great.

Another side of this is mental. I found that my horses love to get out and see new things. Check out what is down around the corner, or over the hill. A pasture is better than just a stall, but even stuck in a pasture can be hard on a horse. A horse likes to be challenged both physically and mentally.

I think it all depends on what you are going to do with the horse. My little daugther rides her four times a week, sometimes two extra times in teh weekend. That is enough for the horse at this stage, because the stable has a huge area where the horse can run free when we are not riding her.