Do you ride the day after a competition?

[MissSBird]

A question arising from a curious discussion with a friend. I have always given my horse a day off after competition as I feel they've earnt the break. My friend, however, always rides the next day gently to try and prevent stiffness then gives them the following day off.

Now in fairness, I show and she events so her horse so hers is under a fair bit more physical exertion than mine on competition days. But it's got me curious as to what others do.

 

[Santa_Claus]

yep when ever possible will go for a quiet hack or similar the day after competing. Gives them chance to stretch and loosen up any muscles which may have got tight. Will also if time allows chuck Fleur out in the field for at least an hour when returning. Gives her chance to stretch legs and have a good roll etc, especially as will have been in the trailer for a minimum of an hour coming back.

 

[BBs]

Yep tend to work my horses after a competition.
I competed yesterday, only a mini ODE and I have a sjing lesson this evening.
He will be hacked tomorrow and day off on Wednesday.

 

[Jul]

Mine event and they get a day off after a comp.
If they've done only SJ or dressage I might hack them the next day but as a general rule they get a day off after travelling and having a day out.
They always go out in the field all day.

 

[katie_and_toto]

We tend to just go for a quiet hack or a very short schooling session the day after the competition, and then give him the day off after that

 

[Kraft]

My horse events and i always give him a day off, sometimes 2.

He does go out into the field, which will help with stiffness etc. I like to see it as a reward for being good - Maybe a little silly thought but have always done that.

 

[stencilface]

Depends on how the rest of my week looks work wise, if I won't get any other chance to ride that week, I will do - on a small hack though. But I am quite happy to give him a day off, he is out 24/7 in summer, so am not worried particularly about stiffness.

 

[only_me]

Always ride after eventing - it is usually a hack (walking or trot work up hills). Obs check if sound before riding.
Do it to maintain fitness and to prevent any stiffness

but I would school/jump him as normal after a show/sj/dressage

 

[milliepops]

My horse events and i always give him a day off, sometimes 2.

He does go out into the field, which will help with stiffness etc. I like to see it as a reward for being good - Maybe a little silly thought but have always done that.

^^this My mare gets so excited travelling anywhere that I like to give her a day to recover, play and mooch in the field afterwards. If the weather is reasonable she will go straight off the box into the field and stay there

 

[UnaB]

I've always given mine the day off after a competition

 

[AandK]

always give Andy the day off after a comp. he lives out 24/7 so stiffness is not a problem these days but tbh it was the same when he was stabled at night. he will sometimes get 2 days off after an event, depending on how it went and ground conditions etc.

 

[Jingleballs]

Depends on lots of things - how hard he worked, how stiff he might be, how tired I am!

We did 2 dressage tests yesterday and pony will get lunged today, hacked tomorrow and then day off in the middle of the week. I found that my pony was actually stiffer when he was out of work - after 3 months off he was tight and tense - now that he's worked regularly his muscles are nice and squishy so I've learned that for my horse it's better to keep him working to loosen the muscles.

 

[wench]

if horse has been good/done lots = day off
if horse has been bad = lots off work

 

[Baileyhoss]

Normally B gets the day off, but tbh, it's really to give ME the day off. Normally there is a car boot full of stuff to sort out, and sometimes a trailer to clean out if late back.

He is on 24/7 turn out though and I always thoroughly check legs etc.

 

[Fiona]

Generally have a relaxed hack out the day afterwards to ease any stiffness and highlight any problems.

Poss have the next day off when normally back at work.

Fiona

 

[jumptoit]

My horses event, they have one day in the field with a nice gentle hack - walk only then back to full work .

 

[herewego]

My boy out 24/7 so is turned out when we get home from an event and has the next day off, always worked for me

 

[millitiger]

echo depends how hard they have worked!

generally they don't have a day off.

if i think they have worked very hard they get a day off (always turned out) but they are always trotted up the day after an event- whether they are working or not.

 

[kerilli]

My horses event, they have one day in the field with a nice gentle hack - walk only then back to full work .

Same here. a day off really, just walk-only hack (between 30 mins and an hour long, ideally a loop) no tight turns or hard work, a nice relaxed stroll really so that they loosen up and i can feel if there is even the slightest unevenness anywhere.

 

[MegaBeast]

Depends what is on for the agenda for the rest of that week, but generally a day off then a gentle hack the following day

 

[wonkey_donkey]

Mine always have the day off but they don't suffer with any stiffness and they get plenty of turn out anyway.

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

Always turn my horses out for a few hours when we get back from a comp (unless its allready dark). The next day I just go for a gentle hack at walk to stretch everything and to look/feel for any stiffness/uneveness.

With Beau after an comp generally has an easy day and day off then back to usual.

However with Lucy after an Endurance would go for a gentle hack (well that was the aim often more a short sideways jog) he would then have the rest of the week off just being walked in hand and turned out during the day before the following weekend starting work again with long (2 - 3hr) slow rides. Exact time off depended on how hard the last race had been (speed, ground conditions, flat or hilly etc).
We used to compete every 4 weeks so had a cycle of week off, steadily build work up again towards the next comp over the following 2.5weeks, last 2 days before would be walking with either steep hills or a short gallop blast and the day before off, walked in hand.

 

[otter2]

it depends! i have a 5 day show coming up and she needs to be fit enough to compete every day so she had a show sunday and then a lesson yesterday this week because she needs to get used to it again after a winter without shows
after the 5 day show though, she will have 5 days off.. provided she's good!

 

[MagicMelon]

I never ride the day after (I event and BSJA). Mine lives out 24/7 though so he doesn't get stiff as he's chucked out into the field as soon as we get home.

 

[happihorse]

I always ride the day after a competition - I only do dressage so it isn't really that much more hard work for the horse than a normal day's schooling and it stops him getting stiff.

He goes out in the field when we get back from a competition if it is still light and the ground is ok.

 

[shark1]

i turn them out - i think thats the best way for them to chill and get rid of any stiffness.

 

[Cash]

I turn out for as long as possible (as usual) and then go for a 20 mins or so hack, mainly walk and a bit of trot. Or at my old yard my old horse would go on the walker- don't have that luxury at current yard