How much time a day do you need to dedicate?

Question

How much time a day in the summer do you have to dedicate to a horse? And I know in the winter you have to do more so how long do you have to dedicate to them then too?

Answer 1

I would say you need to dedicate at least 2hrs of your time in the summer and up to 3hrs per day in the winter b/c of cooling down properly and putting their blankets back on.

Answer 2

ooo lordy...

i spend probly about and hour to two hours every day and tht still isnt enough.

Answer 3

the least amount of time you should dedicate to a horse everyday is haltering, grooming and feeding. you dont have to work your horse everyday unless he is a show horse and needs to have training everyday. sometimes its best to just sit with your horse in the grass(with him on lead) for some bonding time. it all really depends on the horse tho

Answer 4

It depends on what you are doing work wise too.

Could be that you need to spend an hour in the morning mucking out, groom, feed, rug up in winter, fly mask and net in summer before going off to work.

The waters need doing, the hay nets need doing.

If they are in due to bad weather they will want a hay net roughly every four hours and the water topping up.

If they are out in the summer it does give you more time - for instance - ours go out about 7.30am, and dont come in until 8.30-9pm.  They dont need feed during that time just checking on now and again.  So whoever is here does that.

In the spring and autumn when the days arent so long they come in for tea about 5pm.  They will need outdoor rugs taken off and hung to dry/air, fed, and then left until 'bedtime'.  This varies between people from 7.30-10pm.  We usually do ours at 8pm.  In winter they need rugging up in the stable so that takes a few minutes per horse.

Its a tie too so you have to be prepared for that - you cant just go off for the day without having secured care for the horse - if its in it will need hay and water checking, and a check to see a rug hasnt slipped or that it hasnt got cast in the stable rolling or something.

Its a way of life really having a horse.  There are freelance people around - and I have a blinding one - who come in and muck out and check your horse through the day.  If we are off at competitions or what have you at least they are looked after.  As for riding - it depends what kind of horse you have.  If its a happy hacker, then its up to you when you ride and it doesnt need to be every day so long as they go out.  If its a compeititon horse - its every day to keep it up to scratch.

Its not like having a dog.  So think carefully before you do it.

Like I said - its a way of life - so you have to make that decision carefully.

Answer 5

That's a bit like asking how long is a piece of string.

If you are a fast and efficient worker then you can get stuff done without spending hours hanging around the yard. If you're like me and just sort of drift about sometimes watching the horse eat and stuff then it takes longer of course.

Generally there is less to do in Summer as the horses are turned out onto pasture so no mucking out and little or no feeding. in Summer i generally visit once a day - sometimes it's half an hour - sometimes half a day.

In Winter it's generally an hour in the morning and at least an hour and a half at night ( unless there is any riding going on)

Answer 6

Hmmm never just had one....I spend at least 6 hours per day and that's doing everything.  I would guess 2 hours a day for one.

Answer 7

It just depends on what you are willing to do work wise. We had 3 horses. Feeding, cleaning, and watering are the basic essentials to keeping a horse alive. When it comes to the quality of horse and relationship you have with the horse that is where time comes into play.

I work at a ranch. We have 14 horses there. Everyday, I feed, and work some of the horses. Many of the horses are older, or better trained, and don't need as MUCH attention. I work with and do some training on the younger and green horses. Daily riding is not necessary.

It comes down to your time availability, and your dedication to you beloved horse.

Answer 8

alot. morning chores.. nightly chores. riding. grooming. socializing.. it depends on how long you take doing so.

Answer 9

My horse loves to see me coming to her, she whinnies and comes running to the fence.  I feed my horse twice a day and groom her once a day.  She likes the attention and I feel guilty if I don't hang out with her a little every day especially on the days we don't ride.

Answer 10

all day