A fittening question

[RuthnMeg]

Meg is currently on her winter holiday, living out 24/7 anyway. She therefore isn't clipped but is now wearing her rug (waiting for that first rip!). I usually give her some of November off, and all of December and Jan off, bring her back into work in Feb. I do this for generally 2 reasons, 1 - it saves me money on her shoes which I can save up and put towards Spring and Summer activities, and 2- I often find myself doing ''family stuff'' over the festive period and would only manage to ride briefly once or twice a week at best. Same with the short days, and did I not mention the 'your doing horses AGAIN' husband? lol
However, Meg does keep very fit, she has never lost muscle tone over this 'off' period, I guess she is always on the go - the skiddy marks in the field are very impressive!! Her tendons seem like iron too. I appriciate that she may need 'lung fittening work' when coming back into work, but realistly would I manage to get to a Pheobe Buckly clinic if that happens mid/late Feb?
Can you bypass weeks worth of walking when your horse has been living out?
Thanks

 

[kez1001]

if she keeps herself pretty fit then you probably dont have to do much to get her started.

If it was me i would still walk for the first week or two, just to give myself piece of mind that she had done it as as you have said she skids around the field no bother. then weeks three and four schooling a couple times a week and still hacking out too. then week five id start jumping.

however only you know your horse so just an opinion, my mare used to carry on in the field all the time and just had to look at a hill to be fit. Also if the clinic is a group lesson i tend to find these arent as strenous for the horse as there is a lot of chat and watching others. At start of this year i hadnt jumped my mare at home before first clinic in march as our arena was just too hard - damn weather! wish i wasnt so far up north or i would love to go to phoebe clinic!