I have a full time job but on weekends I work at the stable where my horse is boarded. I do get a major workout then.
There is so much exercise involved in just getting ready to ride! There is the long walk to the pasture, the grooming and lifting the heavy saddle. Then you do it all in reverse. All that bending and stretching you do beforehand. Just think of the workout you get when your horse doesn’t want to be caught, too. Luckily those times are rare for me, but I often see it with others.

I’m not sure what I am supposed to log here but I did ride Saturday for about 2 1/2 hours. It was a windy day so we did go sideways alot. You know, monsters out to get us and all. We only went at a walk (except for sudden sideways scrambles) because we needed a hoof trim. Hope the arena is not too muddy for some pole bending next time.

I work at a stable full time, I have 10 horses I take care of all by myself and a stallion in there to boot, you get work outs left and right with a horse running farther in the pasture, scrambling to get out of the way of flying stallion hooves and also getting in the saddle of 10 horses every day is a very great work out, expesially lifting and unlifting the saddle all day long and also doing different work outs for all the different courses the horses take. All I can say is invest in a horse and you have a fun exercise system and a great pal to do it all with ^_!!!

Yes, there’s no doubt that owning horses or even boarding them is a great way to stay in shape. Then there’s all the pleasure that comes with it, too. I find that working with the horses leaves me much more relaxed. Sometimes when I need to think, I spend some time just grooming them or riding bareback.

To ShibainuHorses56: It looks to me as if you’ve been making lots of progress considering your full time job working with 10 horses – both in and out of the barn. Frankly, I’d love to be in your boots, since my lifelong dream has been to own a horse, to canter along beautiful wooded trails enjoying nature. What a wonderful opportunity you have working with horses as a stable full time job! ;) Your description of activities implies that you must be making bales of progress in the physical activity category. That, combined with a daily breakfast of Kashi cereal, and a diet containing plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein foods including fish rich in omega 3s, Kashi bars for energy snacks, and approximately 64 oz. of water… you are galloping full speed towards having a super-fit body with healthy cholesterol levels! But 0% progress? (Impossible.) To me, it seems that you’ve attained much in your quest for a healthy lifestyle. Where I live, there is an abundant variety of my favorite Kashi products, and combining them with silky vanilla soy milk keeps my weight stable and my taste-buds so very happy. But since moving down here to S. Jersey, I have no clue about how to start my quest for what I crave most: equine bliss! Now, would you please tell me how to start looking for the perfect horse?!

I have 6 horses and board 4 more for others. Last Sunday I hosted a clinic. We just ran all day (me not the horses). Making sure people had water (it was way too hot) running back and forth directing horse trailer parking. And of course still had the regular barn chores to do.
We get lots of exercise. But it is not aerobic. So I try to remember to run back and forth with the wheelbarrow to and from the barn to the manure pile :)
I think farming is tough on people, lots of hard work, but not aerobic