Can my horse have a rest day after intensive training?

Of course! Recovery is a very important part of training. It matters for the horse's body, because it is during rest that the body rebuilds itself after work (just as it does for us humans). Rest and recovery also keep motivation up. And rest days matter for us riders too!

How often and how hard your horse should work depends on your situation and goals as a rider, the horse's age, fitness and energy levels, and how much room it has to move in the paddock and through the day. For a fully grown horse with plenty of turnout, it is reasonable to rest one to two days a week and ride three to four with varying intensity and surroundings, plus one to two sessions of groundwork.

Younger horses need more rest in the form of shorter sessions and longer rest periods at regular intervals ☀️