Do I loose school my horse too often?

Question

Well some days when I can't ride (not enough time) I loose school my horse instead to burn off his energy. He is a 4 year old so obv still needs regular groundwork (he was backed a year ago.)

Thing is, I sometimes do it twice a week, and my friend said this is too often, not sure as to why though. I also lunge him, but prefer loose schooling.

Am I going wrong here, doing it too often? (if so why)

Answer 1

Twice a week is absolutely fine! If your horse is happy and you are happy with no problems then there is nothing to worry about... I'd ignore this friend if I were you.

Have fun!

Answer 2

Loose shcooling is O.K. once in a while, but riding is the best solution to releasing some of your horses pent  up enegy. Riding makes the horse think about the commands you are giving him, listen to you, and it helps fortify the bond between you. In loose schooling, he is just running around while you flick a whip at him. Lounging is slightly better, as the horse is still having to listen to commands from you.

Hope you have the best of luck with your horse!

Answer 3

Loose schooling is fabulous and should never be underestimated.  Ground work and understanding of a youngster is vital to your relationship with it.  You can and should loose school as often as possible but do try to do it in addition to riding.  Your horse is young and needs education but this is in every way including ground work.  You must make sure that it is turned out as well though, as it isn't enough if he is stabled.  In any case a 4 year old should be socialised outside with others and not stabled unless necessary.

Good on you well done.

Answer 4

Im pretty sure its not too often, just work for small periods. and join up is never done too much. This helps build trust and  with that you can teach so much more than by force!

Answer 5

Twice a week is absolutely fine. At four years he's still not fully mature mentally and strict "all work no play" daily routines are likely to cause him to become resentful. Mental health and well being is just as important to horses as it is to humans.

Actually as far a Free Lungeing versus regular lungeing I rotate pretty regularly. On my older well trained horses I very rarely hook a line to them once they are trained to lunge as they follow all voice commands --- walk, trot, lope, canter, slow, whoa, back and reverse -- perfectly without a line attached. Even have two that I regularly work outside of the RP and free lunge.

If they are well trained they don't have to have a pen or even a line attached to fiollow your commands and be obedient. Just make sure they are well trained and actually do follow your commands and don't just run about willy-nilly doing what they want :-) If they try that put them back on the line and work some more before trying free lunge work again. One it become a reflex reaction they do it well no matter what.

Also comes in very handy with the ones children or beginner riders ride as they are so well trained to my voice commands that on the few occasions that a younger beginner rider cued them wrong (cued for a canter then got scared, paniced and grabbed the horn instead of thinking) I just called "walk" and they calmly dropped into a walk.

Answer 6

nah... loose schooling is great just as long as he is doing what you ask and you are not just running him around...

try the seven parelli games... you can google them and print them out... they are more fun and kind of teach ur horse to be more calm...

good luck!