do horses need days off?

My horse does. She seems fresher and more willing when she gets a couple of days a week off from riding. We still do something - have a nice turnout, take a walk, do some ground work, lunge - but I don't ride every day.
 
well i was talking about this you see :)
if you ride at 12pm on a monday, then you finish riding at 1 and they go back out in the field if you ride at 3pm on tuesday then they have had 27hours off :) which is a day LOL
but yes i give her some days off just to keep her awake :D
 
My old horses would always be given a day off after competition, and perhaps one a week/10 days. My current share horse just gets lazier and lazier and slower and slower the more consecutive days you ride him--- so he gets days off-- to save my legs LOL

I also think its nice to give horses just time to be horses especially in the summer and out 24/7
 
i think 99% of horses have days off for their owners sake, not their own! :)

Millie gets 1 day off a week and Vinnie gets 2-3 days off a week- i am tired enough on that routine let alone riding them both every day with no let up!
 
Yep my girl has one day offa week, if been at a competition then the day straight after otherwise generally a Monday. I just feel it helps to keep her chilled and fresh with one full day off to play in the field
 
i always let my pony haveat least one day off a week to let him rest and be free run wild in the field as people wouldnt like to have to work everyday would they?
 
I think that it's good for them to have some horse time in the field. The exception would be horses without turnout, such as those kept in cities. However I think in the case of city horses it's good for them to have holidays in the country - the Household Cavalry horses do (and aren't we all glad they do:D) and the ponies at the city farm I rode at used to as well. It really did them good, you could see it in them after a little break:)

ETA James Herriot (:D) wrote about one case of 'Monday Morning Disease' - basically tying up - which I believe was fairly common in horses that worked all week and were left in their stables at the weekend - which is why I think it's good for horses without turnout to get some exercise each day. :)
 
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Horses don't, riders do.......! Horses love routine and do not need days off - I try not to give my pointers a day off, unless they have raced - then if they have raced and are fine, they get max of 1-2 days off. then start again, road work and cantering. If they come back sore, they get more days off....I love it (not that they are sore, but it gives me a break!)
Happy hackers - aim to ride them 3-4 days out of 7, lovely!
 
Spudlet said:
I think that it's good for them to have some horse time in the field. The exception would be horses without turnout, such as those kept in cities. However I think in the case of city horses it's good for them to have holidays in the country - the Household Cavalry horses do (and aren't we all glad they do:D) and the ponies at the city farm I rode at used to as well. It really did them good, you could see it in them after a little break:)
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Yup agree with this- the first yard I had my pony at had no turnout, every yearafter pony club camp they were sent off to a field for two weeks...... (once 3 as we couldnt catch the little b*ggars!!)
 
I think that horses in very hard work probably do - but mine no! He gets 23 hours a day off, most of which are spent trolling about in the field getting grubby and feeding his face. His work is varied, with schooling, hacking, jumping (with another jockey) and competitions. That's not to say he doesn't get days off, but they're to suit my work/home life rather than him!
 
The horses at my RS all have Mondays off, currently in our laavely huge field, just to be horses :)

Most will also have in addition a day or two extra off when they aren't being used in lessons.
 
Mine got 3 days off each week when he was a 4,5 and 6 yr old now at the age of 7 he gets one day off, it really perks him up for the start of the week :)
 
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