Do horses enjoy a holiday?

Sooty

Sooty

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If a horse has been in continual (not necessarily hard!) work for several years, with never more than a week off at a time, does it benefit them to have a complete rest for a month or so? Does it depend entirely on the horse? I am thinking of 17-year-old nappy pony with issues...
 
I would think so.
Duke gets bored and turns off, napping starts
refusing etc if he doesnt get a hol every so often
 
I would say not too long particularly if not working hard and slightly older. A maximum of a couple of weeks but may 2/3 times in the year.
 
They have sunday off every week and at least a month/6 weeks of each year

but teh rest cope fine on teh day a week

depends on the horse
 
Well duke is a 14.2hh connemara cross
and can be a stroppy so and so
he needs his hols otherwise he throws a paddy and wont do anything, although we still try to stick to his routine, he enjoys being nosy in the yard, but is turned out almost 24/7
if hes getting a bit tubby we do some lungeing and he wears a grazing mask

but Phoenix on the other hand, 16.hh Thorughbred X needs to be kept in work to keep him manageable
 
Chloe came back into work after her enforced 2 month break really spritely and cheerful. She's 15, and it was her first break for longer than a week in 7 years
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and I really think the rest did her good.
She was also much nicer to handle - my mum commented on how less grumpy she was
laugh.gif
 
I would give it a go - what have you got to lose anyway? 2 months not riding? Could always have some lessons in the mean time on another horse.

Hb
 
I would say it depends on the horse. When I started doing serious endurance with my senior horse, I tried to give him the winter off - he hated it, became really grumpy and difficult to handle and only settled down when I gave up and started working him again. He never had another 'holiday' while competing although obviously he got time off after rides.

He has, however, taken quite happily to retirement!
 
the yard that mine is at have a week off twice a year, I purposley arrange to ride unless it's winter due to the fat thing !!! feel mean sometimes but he still get 4 days off, but alternative days !!
 
i hope they do enjoy a break, have put my "problem" pony out for a couple of months as he has never had a break from work and i think he has a bit of a mental problem! hoping to kind of start again with him soon!
 
I sometimes give Chex a fortnight or so off, just basically leave him to play in the field. He seems to enjoy the rest, but does generally come back a little wild. After the break we're both more keen to get working agian. I find he benefits from a complete change, like new rides etc and getting out a rut of the same thing day in day out.
 
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