Riding multiple horses a day for work after hardly riding for a few years?

Question

Last week I stumbled across my dream opportunity to exercise racehorses at a small farm. I've been working there a few days now.

I rode competitively/under trainers from age 6 to about 16 and my recreational riding fizzled out around 19 and I've only been riding my retired senior horse and my aunts tb very occasionally since then (I'm 22).

The horses at the farm are very green, some have only been backed once to 5 times, and we are just putting some time on them everyday. So far, I've been very confident working with them on the ground and even hacking them out at a walk and successfully working through their many spooks and other episodes and I've felt great about the skills and common training sense that I've retained.

On the third day I got put on a "star pupil" and was asked to trot him, and holy crap I am weak and pathetic!! Even though I feel confident in my seat trotting and cantering my own horse and my aunts horse, trying to keep this strong mouthed tb at a steady pass (he was rushing so bad) and keep my legs strong and still was such a challenge!

Now I am starting to feel down about my riding ability and I'm wondering if anyone else has gone through this and what I can do to help myself get stronger? Should I ride more outside of work?
 
I really like working with these horses, the owner works around my college schedule, and I wanna advance as an exercise rider! Please share some experience!

snl · Accepted Answer

You need to be riding several hours a day and exercising in your own time to build up the strength to be able to handle those horses because you can get seriously injured.  Before even taking this job you should have been comfortable tough mounts for several hours a day.  Probably best to start building strength on the horse you own by riding without stirrups for about an hour a day.  In the gym or at home work on leg strength, core strength (very helpful to keep the horses in control), and upper body/shoulder strength.  If you have a hard time controlling the good horses, you HAVE to tell your boss because you can seriously injure yourself and the horse if you are under prepared.  Your boss wants you both safe and the horse to be able to make money so if you can't handle it only do ground work until you are stronger.

Casey · Answer

Yes, I am going through it right now. I have been training horses with people and by myself since I was 5. I started riding before I could walk. I mean I had my parents to hold me up in the saddle. I stopped riding for about a year. I just started riding a woman's horse. I told her that I knew how to change a horses lead. I do, but I don't remember how it felt when it changes it. I felt so bad. I am a very confident rider but I can't shake the feeling of disappointment. I mean the horse was acting up and it wasn't my fault. The horse would stop at random times and when I say stop I mean STOP! I would almost fall forward off the horse and I was in a western saddle. I felt so bad because she wanted good videos of the horse. She did ask me to come back, but I just felt so bad. I mean I worked everyday with horses of all kinds. I literally have bruises on my thighs from this horse slamming the brakes so fast. I was trying my best but I felt so bad that I couldn't perform on a horse today.

Anonymous · Answer

"Should I ride more outside of work?"    You should do what you need to do to make sure you can perform your job duties.

? · Answer

Ouch that  job will always hurt. . .be careful you don't get severely injured.

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Riding multiple horses a day for work after hardly riding for a few years?

4 Answers