my situation

I got my horse, an 8 year old Thourghbred gelding, back in the summer in August. I moved him to this boarding place because the price was right, and the drive was about 30 min, I didnt think it was so bad. I rode him everyday, well almost everyday I gave him one day off. I mostly rode him in the arena, rode him on the trails a couple times, he was good except he did spook once, but it was fine and I was able to pull him back really quick.

Well since the summer had ended and school started agian, there has been traffic, so now it takes me about an hour sometimes just one way, and I always have to go around the same time otherwise it could be worse. I find myself not going as much. I have hardly ridden him in the last month or two, but I have been paying the BO to ride him when I can't to make sure he is still being ridden at least every other day, and I do go see him and make sure he has supplements etc, or turn out time and just to see him cause I miss him. I feel really guilty cause I use to see him daily and now maybe 2-3 times a week.

So I talked to my friends dad, he lives about 10 minutes away from me and they are zoned for horses, and have 2 llamas. He said I can keep my horse there and all I have to pay is the cost of his food, and split cost for the guy who comes and feeds and cleans etc...so ill be paying a lot less and he will be a lot closer. Im going back to school in the spring so I would still be able to see him daily once he is moved.

However I know I still wont be able to ride him everyday, when I do it will be mostly trail riding, which is fine, but to be honest I have never taken him by himself on a trail ride and I havn't ridden alone on a trail ride in 10 years. I guess i'm a little nervous, haha.

How many days a week do you guys get your horses out?
At the new place he wont be stuck in a stall all day, only during feeding to seperate him from the llamas, but other then that he will be turned out and have a lot of room to roam with the llamas.(once they get use to eachother)

I guess im writing this cause I feel like Im a bad horse momma, and Im wondering if I am, honestly? I love my baby and just want to best for him, I wish he was closer now. Is it ok for a horse to be ridden about 2-3 times a week?

That is just fine to only be ridden a couple days a week as long as he has turn out. Sometimes my horses don't get ridden for a month or so at a time but they have 24/7 turnout.

We try to ride everyday but life has a tendency to get in the way
We absolutely go at least once or twice a week. The longest I have gone is 3 months due to an injury.
Your horse is old enough he should be able to go longer periods between rides than a 3-4 year old can.
I always say the younger the horse the more they need ridden because they have very short memorys. An older guy should be able to remember what is expected of him for a week or more

No, you aren't a bad horse mom. Lol My horses don't get ridden anywhere near that often.. As long as they are well trained to start with you shouldn't have a problem. Some horses do seem to require riding more often to keep them in good humor about it, but IMO a well broke horse can be left for months and they are as good as the last day you rode.

You can always take him on a "trail walk" at first if you are a bit nervous about riding out alone. When you go be sure you leave word with someone where you will be and when you plan to return. Also horses who are turned out more than in stalls get a lot of energy out of their systems because they are moving around and grazing all day instead of standing in a stall bored to death. ;)

My only concern would be no herd or other horses-will they bond with Llamas?
Its winter-hardly anyone gets the same exercize they do in spring summer and fall