I’m the (proud) owner of the most beautiful ISH x ID mare. She is 9yo and 17hh. She’s bred to jump and does BS and lower level BE. I probably compete her at a lower level than her capabilities but she’s happy and that’s what matters
Our routine is fairly chilled however it’s what I’ve found makes her happiest. And it works for my life too. Win win. But recently I was approached at the yard and told it’s been noticed I don’t come up enough and she isn’t being ridden often enough and it heavily implied I’m neglecting her needs. I was told to loan her out if I ‘don’t have enough time for her in my life’ i don’t understand. My horse is happy. I’m happy. What’s the problem?
her current routine is to be ridden 3 times a week and lunged once. This is usually x1 jumping session, 1x flatwork schooling session, 1x hack (usually on the beach or woodland so sometimes end up having a gallop or jumping over logs and fences which she loves, but sometimes we just go for a chilled out hack) and then lunged aswell. So in work 4 times a week. Sometimes it’s slightly more and sometimes slightly less depending on weather and work but that’s a general average of our routine. She’s in the field 8am - 8pm everyday in a herd and is happy and performing so well with our current routine. I sometimes come up on non riding days too for cuddles and tlc but I pay hundreds a week for her to be on the best full livery in the area so I don’t come up everyday.
I’m currently studying for my phd and am insanely busy at the moment. But I’m never too busy for my horse. This would be our routine irrespective of me completing my phd because she’s happy with it.
the other owners are nice but I don’t really know them that well despite being at the yard for several years. We just rarely cross paths and it’s a huge competition yard. I was so upset and taken aback that I didn’t know what to say but was upset on the way home. It turns out theyve all been saying I’m a bad owner and she’s neglected and I’m wasting her talent and should loan her to someone with time for her. They usually come up every single day despite being on full livery which is obviously their choice and absolutely fine but if I pay for her to be mucked out then I’m not going to rush to come up everyday and do it myself. If I’m there, I’ll do it, but I dont stress about coming up everyday. And for them it’s a social thing which again is fine but I’m too busy to stand and chat at the hay bales for hours with them and my priority is my horse.
AIBU? Am I being a bad/negligent/lazy horse owner? Would you judge me for my routine?