cp1980
Well-Known Member
I was wondering how many people turn their horse out for a few months during the autumn/first half of winter?
Do you winter-off your horse?
- Thread starter cp1980
- Start date
Paint it Lucky
Well-Known Member
I don't winter mine off as I would miss riding him too much! It's not like I compete him hard all summer though, so he doesn't really need winter off. He gets easy or harder weeks now and then but tends to have a fairly consistent workload all year round.
Law
Well-Known Member
The first winter I had him i was forced to scale back due to lighting at night, or total lack of! When I did this I hacked or schooled on weekends, shoes came off and he was just out 24/7.
Last winter he was forced into being stabled so his workload went up or stayed the same and my costs went through the roof! (triple what i paid when he was out 24/7
)
This winter I want him out as far as possible but he'll still do a little work in the week and compete/school on weekends and have one evening lesson a week/fortnight too
Hope to get shoes off too until feb/march time.
Last winter he was forced into being stabled so his workload went up or stayed the same and my costs went through the roof! (triple what i paid when he was out 24/7
This winter I want him out as far as possible but he'll still do a little work in the week and compete/school on weekends and have one evening lesson a week/fortnight too
cp1980
Well-Known Member
I know a bloke who turned out his TB x Standardbred trotter on to the Lancashire moors (rugged, of course) bewteen October and Feb. She was fine. He saved enough money to be able to compete at HDT the following season.
rara007
Well-Known Member
Nope, we do the indoor season!
Cobland
Well-Known Member
Mine arent worked as much in the winter, mainly because we are up the mountain a bit and get really bad weather, oh the wants of an indoor arena.
Got Mae in December last year when it was snowing, she was out all winter pregnant and was fine.
Got Mae in December last year when it was snowing, she was out all winter pregnant and was fine.
RunToEarth
Well-Known Member
I hunt two a season- and I've got 3 this season, neither Bec or I could finantially or practically justify having another horse to do, so Wills has gone to be wintered out. Saves us a bundle of money and a bundle of limited time in winter.
Mooch
Well-Known Member
Mine live out 24/7, 365 anyway.
But, I do ride less in the winter due to the weather and the days being shorter.
In a way it costs me more over winter, with the costs of hay and feeds.
Milly hasn't been ridden for 10 days now, as my son has been in hospital and I just have not been able to fit it in.
Hopefully, I will get back to some light hacking out and some lessons very soon.
But, I do ride less in the winter due to the weather and the days being shorter.
In a way it costs me more over winter, with the costs of hay and feeds.
Milly hasn't been ridden for 10 days now, as my son has been in hospital and I just have not been able to fit it in.
Hopefully, I will get back to some light hacking out and some lessons very soon.
cp1980
Well-Known Member
I suppose the cost saving is relative to how you keep your horse when in work. If it lives out 24/7 anyway, there will be no cost saving. Conversly, if it is in full livery in the home counties while in work, paying for grazing livery in Cumbria shoiuld save you at least £50 per week!
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
Same as Mooch really.
Although every other year Rosie has her shoes off for 2-3 months and is really roughed off. I leave her unclipped and hairy, don't groom much and don't ride at all in that period.
She used to revel in this time off when she was younger, but now she's older she doesn't seem to enjoy it as much, or need it so much.
She had a shorter holiday - 6 weeks off last winter, so will probably just ride her through this year, though it's only weekend riding with a bit of lungeing in the dark or full moon when the ground is suitable as have no school or lights
Although every other year Rosie has her shoes off for 2-3 months and is really roughed off. I leave her unclipped and hairy, don't groom much and don't ride at all in that period.
She used to revel in this time off when she was younger, but now she's older she doesn't seem to enjoy it as much, or need it so much.
She had a shorter holiday - 6 weeks off last winter, so will probably just ride her through this year, though it's only weekend riding with a bit of lungeing in the dark or full moon when the ground is suitable as have no school or lights
cazza
Well-Known Member
ours work really hard over the summer so October back shoes are taken off (some have all off) and they are roughed off for 5 months, brought back in end of Feb/March. This is their time to be horses again and just chill and be happy. We never have had any problems with catching or working any of our horses as I think they know they work hard and get plenty of their own time as well.
horsegirl
Well-Known Member
How come only 8 people say they winter their horse off but 21 people tell us how they do it and 25 whether they save money???
cazza
Well-Known Member
Looks to me it's different perceptions of wintering-off your horse. To me I use the term to winter/rough off a horse is to turn it out and no riding, lunging or anything other than general twice daily checks, feet trim, worming and haying up. Other people who have voted obviously perceive it in a different way to me.