Going away for 12 days in Jan - what to do with young horse dilemma!

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flippa_t

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I know it’s very much a first world problem, but I’m in a fortunate position that we’ve booked a 12 day holiday at the end of January. But I’ve never been away for anything like that long before and only ever before in the summer so am now very stressed about it!

I have an older boy who is easy, will have 2 weeks off and go on the walker / water treadmill a few times and be as happy as Larry.

But I also have a young hot mare (rising 6) who I’m completely torn what to do with.

If it was the summer she would definitely have 2 weeks in the field growing/ digesting her learning etc., but I’m not sure if this is a good idea in the winter as at best she’ll get 4-5 hours out, and if the weather is bad or we get snow she might not get any some days.

She finds the walker stressful, and the treadmill is work in progress and I’m not sure she’s confident enough for her to use it without me there.

I have a friend who keeps offering to ride her, and whilst she’s a super rider and helped me a lot from the ground, I’ve spent 6 months building a relationship with my mare and am not sure I want anyone else to ride her. Again if it was summer it would be easier as she could just hack her but our hacking is limited in the winter. This might be short sighted as I guess she could improve her like schooling livery.

The yard could lunge her for me, or I just give her 12 days off.

Short of cancelling our holiday (which my husband says is not an option as it’s paid for and we’ve wanted one for 20yrs) I don’t know what to do for the best.

Those of you that regularly have winter holidays, what do you do with your horses?

Thanks!
 
Time off is good for any young horse, but for any, especially if they are a bit hot, extended periods of stabling with no exercise is really not ideal.

I also think it is critical that horses do not become one horse people, it’s a very very valuable skill to be able to accept other riders. Plus other riders often highlight training issues that their main rider has become used to and so isn’t addressing. So as this is a current hole in their production id use the holiday to start plugging it. Who that rider is, should be chosen carefully. Might be worth sending them away for a fortnight.
 
Honey08 said:
If your friend is a good rider I’d let her ride. How could it damage your relationship? It’s good for her to get used to different people.
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Yes, I'd put the friend on board a few times before you go away - if you like her riding and she seems to be effective and kind then I'd be biting her hand off for the offer of ridden work. If (after a few rides) you're not quite happy with the partnership then just say you've decided to give the mare a couple of weeks off.
 
Ok thanks everyone. Sounds like I need to be less precious 😂

I think she’d not had the best start before I got her and she is super sensitive, so after spending the 6 months since I bought her working on rideability, confidence etc I guess I’m just nervous about handing over the reins! Maybe my ego needs to take a dent though as my friend can probably do a great job too!
 
flippa_t said:
Ok thanks everyone. Sounds like I need to be less precious 😂

I think she’d not had the best start before I got her and she is super sensitive, so after spending the 6 months since I bought her working on rideability, confidence etc I guess I’m just nervous about handing over the reins! Maybe my ego needs to take a dent though as my friend can probably do a great job too!
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Remember you can always check first - ask your friend if she'd like to have a ride and see how she gets on! Personally all I want from someone "exercising" my horse (vs paid for schooling) is that they are a nice quiet but competent rider and the horse doesn't object to them. I don't need them to improve the horse's way of going, I just need both parties to be safe and happy. That said I'd always want to check that in advance because not every rider/horse combination gets on. I used to have a very tricky mare and far, far better riders than me would have a nightmare with her.
 
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