do your horses have holidays?

The polo ponies go on holiday in September and come back into work in March/April. We don't play over the winter, and they have a fairly intense time from May-Sept, I think they really earn their break - and it's lovely for them to have a good holiday.

Here they are on holiday, waiting for their daily apples! ( apologies for large photo!)
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Hackie said:
Sure, I think its important for them to have regular extended periods off, for their mental health as well as to maintain long term soundness and physical well being. If they are being schooled properly, it shouldn't hinder their progess, and I know that I wouldn't like to work all year round, why should they?
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If I thought my horses were as stressed and tired by their work as I was by mine, then I would not get on their backs at all.

No, mine never have holidays unless I don't want to ride them.

I very much doubt if anyone can prove that ordinary riding horses need a holiday or benefit from having one.

I could take a picture looking just like the happy polo ponies above any day of the week :)
 
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AdorableAlice said:
I doubt 80% of amateur owned horses work hard enough to need a holiday. On a slight tangent from the original question what do owners consider 'hard' work to be for a pleasure horse and just to pour fuel on the fire, I would suggest that amateur owned horses are frequently injured because they are not worked hard enough to maintain the level of fitness needed for the weekend competitions.

I am not being self righteous, I am amateur and have an injured horse at the moment, plus hunters of the past that were injured through lack of fitness.
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Totally agree with you on this one AA
 
For the last 2 years I've given mine 2 months off when I finish team chasing/hunting in April. They've had limited turnout last couple of winters so have been exercised every day - hack out for hour and a half, very hilly, lots of trot work and canter so pretty fit and I would say in medium work. They pick up the odd niggle or sore muscle when on the go all the time and I've found a 2 month rest period means they come back in to work feeling really good. Literally shove them in a big field, whip their shoes off and just check them daily. My TB is 17 and now he's getting older I think he benefits from a rest - certainly doesn't stiffen up as they move around so much whilst grazing and out 24/7. Don't think they even had a head collar on or left the field for about a 5 week period through April/May! Personally I think they benefit from just being left alone to chill out for a bit so will continue to do so

At different yard now with more turn out so may decide to give them holiday in winter months rather than kill myself through the short days! That said, I do like their holiday to coincide with conditions where they can be turned out 24/7 - weather bit crap for that in the winter when they're clipped!
 
I like to let horses down but I think mine probally do go through more intense periods of work than most except J of course who swans through life being beauiful .
The hunters need a rest by the end of the hunting season they are ridden for long days over six hours last saturday and you combine that with my on off shoes policy the horses get breaks to allow for this .
My hunters are fit though , too fit in one case ,tats is full of it ATM .Fatty will do three days a week over the Christmas break then although bad weather in Jan and Feb often gives you a breathing space but if there's not much hunting missed until the end of the season they are needing a break by mid march and you can be working hard to keep them happy by mid feb
They really need letting down for a while by mid march .
On my horses I often let down after a period of intense learning say starting the changes and often you bring them back up and it's like they have been thinking it though when you get them back up .
Athletes do not train at the most intense level all year round they holiday and go through periods of lighter training .
Resting from shoes is very important to me .
 
TeamChaser said:
For the last 2 years I've given mine 2 months off when I finish team chasing/hunting in April. They've had limited turnout last couple of winters so have been exercised every day - hack out for hour and a half, very hilly, lots of trot work and canter so pretty fit and I would say in medium work. They pick up the odd niggle or sore muscle when on the go all the time and I've found a 2 month rest period means they come back in to work feeling really good. Literally shove them in a big field, whip their shoes off and just check them daily. My TB is 17 and now he's getting older I think he benefits from a rest - certainly doesn't stiffen up as they move around so much whilst grazing and out 24/7. Don't think they even had a head collar on or left the field for about a 5 week period through April/May! Personally I think they benefit from just being left alone to chill out for a bit so will continue to do so

At different yard now with more turn out so may decide to give them holiday in winter months rather than kill myself through the short days! That said, I do like their holiday to coincide with conditions where they can be turned out 24/7 - weather bit crap for that in the winter when they're clipped!
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Your horses are defo in harder work though if out hunting and team chasing! (ETA Goldenstar's as well!) Most people who school, do low level DR/SJ/eventing and hack aren't in nearly as much work, so don't get to the stage where they are straining things a bit. Anything like hunting, 3 day eventing, racing etc where they work hard they defo benefit from a period off. However a happy hacker? RC horse? Not so much.
 
My old boy was still team chasing at a decent level at 21. I think at that age you are better not to let them down completely but to keep them ticking over to maintain muscle and suppleness.

I've spent 18 months developing topline from nothing with my current horse and was advised to only to give 2 weeks off rather than a longer break this year to keep his new muscles. He's had a few months of easier work without shoes instead.
 
My horse has been on holiday for the past year as she knows just how much I love receiving those big vet bills throughout each month and is very fond of his visits.
I, however, am not allowed to leave the county as I am her servant and required to be at her beck and call at all times of the day and night. Sadly it doesn't look like anything is going to be changing any time soon either!
 
khalswitz said:
Your horses are defo in harder work though if out hunting and team chasing! (ETA Goldenstar's as well!) Most people who school, do low level DR/SJ/eventing and hack aren't in nearly as much work, so don't get to the stage where they are straining things a bit. Anything like hunting, 3 day eventing, racing etc where they work hard they defo benefit from a period off. However a happy hacker? RC horse? Not so much.
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To be honest, probably the lack of winter turn out that has also influenced this. Get in to a bit of a vicious circle as I feel they need to do a fair amount of work for fitness and because they spend a lot of time stabled. They then get fitter, need more work etc, etc! TB especially becomes quite tricky by late Feb/March having spent too much time in and gotten almost too fit. Every year I find myself saying "I can't wait to shove this bloody horse in a field and not have to ride it!!" More turn out now will make life easier!
 
I normally give mine 2/3 weeks off end of november start of december, but have decided against it as they had an easy summer this year! Will prob give a week off after new year shows out of the way!
 
kobi said:
My old boy was still team chasing at a decent level at 21. I think at that age you are better not to let them down completely but to keep them ticking over to maintain muscle and suppleness.

I've spent 18 months developing topline from nothing with my current horse and was advised to only to give 2 weeks off rather than a longer break this year to keep his new muscles. He's had a few months of easier work without shoes instead.
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I do periods do light work without shoes too.
Top line always interests me some horse never lose it once its gained others lost it at the drop of a hat .
J has continued to gain topline in his last two breaks .
I agree oldies are best keptticking over and try to keep there breaks to a fortnight / three weeks but they benefit from a change as well.
 
kobi said:
My old boy was still team chasing at a decent level at 21. I think at that age you are better not to let them down completely but to keep them ticking over to maintain muscle and suppleness.
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Well each to their own I guess - that hasn't been my experience with mine. Sure he'll drop a bit of muscle when not worked for a couple of months but nothing that doesn't come back once he gets trotting up the hills again! Mentally he benefits from some time off and comes back a more relaxed individual
 
TeamChaser said:
To be honest, probably the lack of winter turn out that has also influenced this. Get in to a bit of a vicious circle as I feel they need to do a fair amount of work for fitness and because they spend a lot of time stabled. They then get fitter, need more work etc, etc! TB especially becomes quite tricky by late Feb/March having spent too much time in and gotten almost too fit. Every year I find myself saying "I can't wait to shove this bloody horse in a field and not have to ride it!!" More turn out now will make life easier!
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Yeah that is a vicious cycle! Whereas mine lives out 24/7, is reasonably fit (does a lot of trot/canter hill work, and hills meaning 14% inclines) and therefore downtime for him is hacking out and a cut down in schooling sessions. He gets this all through the summer, when I am busy with work, and then schools more over the winter - even in summer I don't compete heavily. So when he gets 3-4 hacks a week compared to schooling 6 x a week that is definitely not hard work!

He gets two weeks off over Xmas, a week when I go to Blair, and generally gets some time off due to weather in January (although moving to a new yard with an indoor so won't be so bad this year). Plus with his EPSM he's much better off kept in regular exercise - he always comes back stiff from a break.

If he were a very young horse, or in hard work, or stabled a lot of the time, it would be a different story. But for most leisure/low level competition riders I don't think a prolonged break (for more than 2 weeks) is really necessary for preserving soundness/mentality. I think it makes us feel better as don't have to exercise for a bit, and makes us feel a bit more 'pro'!
 
Mariposa said:
The polo ponies go on holiday in September and come back into work in March/April. We don't play over the winter, and they have a fairly intense time from May-Sept, I think they really earn their break - and it's lovely for them to have a good holiday.

Here they are on holiday, waiting for their daily apples! ( apologies for large photo!)
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Just out of curiosity, how are they to ride for the first time in May? I have always wondered what it is like getting back on a hunter after its had a summer off, or in this case a polo pony after having the winter off! How long does it take them to remember the language? Are they a bit mental for the first few session or click back into it?
 
alainax said:
Just out of curiosity, how are they to ride for the first time in May? I have always wondered what it is like getting back on a hunter after its had a summer off, or in this case a polo pony after having the winter off! How long does it take them to remember the language? Are they a bit mental for the first few session or click back into it?
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The first ride is usually literally a sit and walk around the school - and they're usually all really good and they seem to click back into work mode within a few days, although it's the first time they get onto the polo ground with others that the fireworks usually happen! Mine were all feeling so well at first chukkas this season, I had my hand in the neck strap throughout!
 
i give each of mine about 2 months off every year. One went straight from hunter trialing, to doing eventing most weeks, then clinics and jumping comps each weekend. He was learning loads of new stuff, and is a real trier who takes it very seriously and works hard. I was afraid he'd burn himself out, so he's off relaxing and will come back into work after xmas. He was on grass livery anyway, but i think a break from me and any concept of work will do him the world of good and allow him to unwind. My other one gets a break cause he's an ex racer who's very babyish and time off seems to allow him to grow into himself a bit more and get more confident in himself, and it gives me a bit of breathing space trying to handle the two of them.

I'm a firm believer in time off. If i'd a happy hacker I would be happy giving them a 3 weeks off a year. But if a horse is schooling, working hard and constantly trying to process new stuff, then i think it's only fair to give them a good break.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I doubt 80% of amateur owned horses work hard enough to need a holiday. On a slight tangent from the original question what do owners consider 'hard' work to be for a pleasure horse and just to pour fuel on the fire, I would suggest that amateur owned horses are frequently injured because they are not worked hard enough to maintain the level of fitness needed for the weekend competitions.

I am not being self righteous, I am amateur and have an injured horse at the moment, plus hunters of the past that were injured through lack of fitness.
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Can't help thinking this might not help mine. He is and always has been so mentally compliant it's been easy to not do anything (bar hacking) for two months, then throw him on the lorry for some BS.

That said he's turned out on a big very hilly field with lively herd mates, where no doubt he does more damage to himself than I do jumping 12 fences, who knows!
 
The vast majority of my horses have every winter off. I only keep a few ticking over during the winter months. There's too many of them to keep them all up and running so they are usually not ridden from around November to April or May. It doesn't make any difference to any of them, they're the same if they're ridden every day or if they have months off.
 
I've roughed my cob off for the winter as I simply don't have time to keep two in work! Shoes are off & he looks like a yetty. The mini T.B (New Forest supposedly) will have a bit of time off in the spring I expect but not too much. He's just had the best part of 2 years doing not very much at all due to work, housemove & getting married.
He's 9 now & has come back better than ever. We are both really loving our work atm & he looks amazing! Took a fair while to get the muscles, especially topline & it was a bit like riding a racing snake for a few weeks.
 
For the first time earlier this year in early Jan/Feb I gave mine 6 weeks off. He'd had infections since first week of November so had been on antibios and a fat leg for that that took 3 weeks to get down properly even with turnout once past the worst. Then we discovered he had mites and another bacterial infection in a very tender part of his anatomy! at the beginning of the year which caused him a lot of discomfort so that was more drugs/jabs and antibios and at that point though I had hacked him in December I decided to scale right back as antibiotics with one batch after another of different drugs wipe out the good bacteria as well as the bad and I wanted him back to full health and out of the worst of the weather/mud before asking much of him. This was the right decision as far as I'm concerned as we kicked off again in March hacking and a happy pony again.
 
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