Bit of advice please!!!

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moocow

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My girl has been going great lately - been doing some lessons and everything has been going well. She was turned out last wednesday and had two days off. Rode her friday and she was a monster - understandable really as she had the time off and had a tummy of fresh grass. Just wondering though, I really wanted to give her a break for a month as she has been in work constantly since last June. Should I work her through her freshness? or should I give her a break now like I intended????

Advice would be great - thanks.
 
What type of work has she been doing?

If only general hacking I would say work through it and if you really feel the need rest her when the grass has lost its rocket fuel effect
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Mind you some come back fizzy no matter what time of the year ..... all depends on the horse ..... do you have friends who know your horse who could advise?? (I always prefer a second opinion
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Work was varied. She was professionally schooled last year from June to Nov. Then from Nov till about a month ago she was doing a mix of arena work and hacking. For the past month she has been doing all arena work (5-6 days a week). She is only rising 5 and is the type that will be fizzy as anything no matter when I bring her back from time off.
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My instructor is off on hols at the mo so i was just wondering really.

Thanks for your reply.
 
Could you slaclken off the amount of days you work her for? Or incorporate more hacking?

5/6 days in the school is a lot for a rising 5 yr old IMO
 
Thanks for your replies.

I have posted before about her hocks - she has bone spavin and poor conformation. I have found that the hacking was really stiffening her up. The difference since I have stopped is amazing. This is probably due to the fact our hacking is all roads and as we are in the middle of the mountains, its very steep hills right from the word go. Hills are usually great for working the back end but in her case it has proven not to help at all only make her a million times worse.So hacking is out of the question really at the mo.
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Horrible in this weather...... hard to keep her interested as well especially since vet has said no tight circle work either so lunging is out of the question.....well, I do lunge her but on a massive circle - just to give her some variety.

She needs a break but I have just got her working well with her back end. Just don't know if I should battle through the freshness from the grass then to give her a break or if I should give her a break now when her work isn't fully established.
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ETS she only does about 20 mins at a time 4 times a week and then her lesson is 40 mins once a week.
 
I would go with your instincts.

Against what my 'competion' minded brain was telling me, i gave my horse a 6 week holiday over april and have just brought her back into work. Instinct made me do it but just as everyone else started to prepare their horses for the summer season mine went on holiday
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. She had also had a tough time with badly fitting saddles and i think that and the combination of her being fresh made me do it.

Any how shes back in work now and she is a different horse, so chilled out and happy. Ive made the most of the weather and have turned her out 24/7 and because of the grass i have cut her feed down. Another couple of weeks and i'll take her to a dressage comp and a clear round to get us going again. She just feels so good now.

I dont regret my decision at all so if I was you i would go with your instincts and if they are telling you she needs a break and shes been working hard all winter, just do it. Your girl wont lose all her fitness over 4 weeks, a couple of weeks back in work she'll be back to where she was before
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