Giving horses longer break in winter

[musk]

I am just wondering if anyone gives their horses a bit of a longer break in winter of around 1 or 2 months. What are the pros and cons? Is it bad for an older horse to have such a long time off?

Reason I am asking is that with two daughters competing now it is becoming too expensive to maintain all year round. I was thinking on taking shoes off and giving the horses two months off. They get daily turnout of around 12 hours (I have to bring them in at night as we are on clay soil and it just gets too wet and boggy to have them standing out 24/7).

I think it would do the younger horse some good but was worried about the older one (18) not being able to build fitness up again, although historically he has had 2 months off every winter with his previous owner so maybe actually does him some good too?

 

[ihatework]

Yes, with caveats

I have event horses and youngsters. I also have little motivation to keep horses stabled through winter unless necessary. So as much as it’s good for event horses who have had a hard season, and I’m also a big fan of babies getting breaks - it’s just as much to suit me as well.

My caveats are the following two types of horse -

Big rangy types who take ages to build muscle mass - sometimes an extended break can be counter productive to their strength - I’d do a max of 3/4 weeks fully off then just keep them ticking over.

Oldies - generally best kept moving so light work under saddle, but 24/7 turnout if possible if not in full work

 

[Patterdale]

My horse does 3-4 months of being fit and competing, then a month or two off all year round. It’s too expensive and time consuming to maintain a fit horse and competition 365 days a year, plus for me it just saps the joy and makes it a chore. I think horses feel the same too, must be a crap life being constantly schooled and worked.

So yep, I’m all for breaks! But for me, a proper break is 24/7 herd turnout.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Yes normally my horses usually get Dec or jan off as those months the motivation is low and it’s a busy time so it’s good for them just to go from stable to field and back with the odd groom. I worked with Faran all winter inhand teaching him manners and doing groundwork but you were lucky if it was once or twice a week with breaks inbetween to be a baby.

He’s currently into month 3 of his lay off, was only supposed to me for the month of June but my spinal injury means he will probably be off until about Nov

 

[sarcasm_queen]

Winter is my busiest time work wise, so they tend to get time off through necessity. Always seems to do them some good though.

 

[musk]

My horse does 3-4 months of being fit and competing, then a month or two off all year round. It’s too expensive and time consuming to maintain a fit horse and competition 365 days a year, plus for me it just saps the joy and makes it a chore. I think horses feel the same too, must be a crap life being constantly schooled and worked.

So yep, I’m all for breaks! But for me, a proper break is 24/7 herd turnout.

We have our own land with a field shelter so I can technically turn out 24/7 and I am someone who turns out 24/7 where I can but I just worry about all the mud on their hooves and their legs due to the type of soil we have. We are in Scotland so it is very wet here over winter.

 

[paddi22]

I gave up giving older eventers months off. I found they lost muscle and fitness more and when they came back into work it got more and more difficult to get it back. So I give anything over 17 a Max of 2 weeks off and then do light hacking to keep muscle.

if I was in your boat I’d take shoes off. Get hoof boots fir light hacking. And give the older one a few shorter break interspersed with hacking.

younger horses I’d give the winter off and not worry.

 

[LEC]

My big issue was I couldn’t get them fit enough in January for eventing in March if they had 2 months off completely for 100 above. This was mainly to do with my personal circumstances around working full time and hating them just going in the arena. Instead I tended to give them 3 weeks off completely and then they would just do 3 days a week work and this tended to work pretty well until December until could be picked up properly over Christmas.

This year I have no choice and the 7yo will be having shoes pulled in October and won’t be back in work until Dec as I need surgery. I do have a more flexible job now which will help with the fittening work that will need to go back in.

 

[nikkimariet]

Rooni had a month off last year over winter. For many reasons for me not for him but the break did him good. He will have some time off over winter again. Maybe 2 weeks out the school then just hacking and poles/jumping for 2 weeks. Good for his brain (and mine) not to be subject to playing sandpit monkey 365 days a year.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Lottie will have a month off out 24/7 after her last event in October. Then she will be hacked only for another month which takes us to Christmas. I think a mental and physical break will do her good.

 

[musk]

Thanks for all of the replies. I might get hoof boots for the older one so he can still be hacked to keep him ticking over. I have read that it is good for them to have shoes pulled for a while anyway but not sure if 2 months would do very much? Otherwise I could just keep them shod but just leave the competing side of things alone for a couple of months

 

[Red-1]

Mine s having some time out. He is on his last shoes, when these need pulling that will be it, shoes off and a month doing nothing. Then a month in-hand work on the school or in hand walking on the road. Then walk hack, if he is comfortable. Back to more work for Xmas, but left barefoot for as long as I can, until I shoe up when he is working harder.

I have a dressage lesson booked for Friday, nothing booked after that.

I have given a few months barefoot at this time for my last 4 horses. The previous ones managed BS and BD barefoot. I shod up when I increased the hacking. This one didn't have the same last autumn as he was new and recently backed and I just did daily hacking and a bit of schooling, but kept him shod up as I was hacking every day. I wanted to get into a routine.

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes, with caveats

I have event horses and youngsters. I also have little motivation to keep horses stabled through winter unless necessary. So as much as it’s good for event horses who have had a hard season, and I’m also a big fan of babies getting breaks - it’s just as much to suit me as well.

My caveats are the following two types of horse -

Big rangy types who take ages to build muscle mass - sometimes an extended break can be counter productive to their strength - I’d do a max of 3/4 weeks fully off then just keep them ticking over.

Oldies - generally best kept moving so light work under saddle, but 24/7 turnout if possible if not in full work

I think this is exactly how it is .
My caveat is that with young horses it’s not good to give them rest if you have good big fields for them to live in while they are off work .

 

[Orangehorse]

I think that the 18 year old would benefit from some work, even if once a week at the weekend.

 

[millitiger]

Mine will have shoes pulled at Christmas, January off and only hacked through February
Shoes back on and back in proper work in March.

After Christmas is when I struggle for motivation as that's when I find the weather is really awful.