horsey day of rest?

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parsley

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I have been working my boy twice a day as the vet says he needs to keep exercising to clear his nose and as I would like to keep him trim. He is getting two of the following per day: about half an hours schooling, a three quarter of an hours hack or 15 mins lunging at trot.

Should he have a day off a week as well. He looks pretty fed up to see me at the moment but we only started Friday
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I don't think that fit horses need the day off unless they've done something strenuous the day before - even then it can be best to have a quiet walk around rather than let them get stiff!
 
My mare has three days schooling for 30 mins plus 1 hour hack and three days with 2 hour hack. Hacks include lots of cantering and small jumps over logs in the woods, nothing very strenuous. I give her Sunday off to relax in the field which gives me time to do the weekly muck out.
 
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I don't think that fit horses need the day off unless they've done something strenuous the day before - even then it can be best to have a quiet walk around rather than let them get stiff!

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Maybe the jockey does though
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mine used to get every 10th day off approx, but within those 10 days there were a couple of light lunge days and a loose school over jumps day!

other people i know have a 'religious' day off, ie: always monday off (or a different day thats convienent)

may be do a couple of days of more 'fun' stuff so he feels he isnt in the school a lot?
 
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I don't think that fit horses need the day off unless they've done something strenuous the day before - even then it can be best to have a quiet walk around rather than let them get stiff!

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Maybe the jockey does though
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I am today after a 2 hour ride out yesterday - used to do 4 hour ones last summer - amazing how your backside gets out of shape!
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I had to go back to bed for two hours yesterday!!!! Just because I hadn't ridden a horse for two weeks!

Have been a deamon on my new bikey though
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Maybe the jockey does though

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The instructor was helping to improve my riding position yesterday and I got cramp today
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I am definatly not as fit as he is
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Maybe the jockey does though

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The instructor was helping to improve my riding position yesterday and I got cramp today
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I am definatly not as fit as he is
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You know you're doing it properly when you ache the next day! Sack of spuds does not toned thighs make!
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I always give my horses Monday off - largely because (a) we are out competing at weekends and (b) it gives us the whole day to do jobs around the yard that get pushed to the side when the horses are being exercised.
 
Mine normally gets one day off but more for convenience sakes. She will have tomorrow off as had a busy weekend and I have a lesson Thurs so want her a bit fresher
 
Mine tend to get 1 or 2 days off a week depending on whether we are competing or having lessons at the weekend. They tend to get a day off during the week, and occasionally one off at the weekend if we are not going anywhere.

This week Grace did:

Monday - Day off
Tuesday - 1 hr schooling
Wednesday - 1 hr schooling
Thursday - 45 mins schooing
Friday - 45 mins schoolinh
Saturday - Off
Sunday - 40 mins schooling
Monday - 45 minutes lesson

So today she is having a well earned rest and will go out in the field for an hour or so when I get back to the yard.
 
I give my Intermediate horse one day off a week for my sake rather than his! Nice just not to have to ride, get home early after work, do jobs around the yard.

If he's done something strenuous, he usually gets just a hack the day after, or led off my other horse.

He's doing about an hour to an hour and a half of hacking plus 30 mins of schooling 4 times a week, with one day lungeing for 30 mins in trot and canter, one day of fast work. Unless we have a lesson, then he do that instead of one of the above.

They have a much bigger capacity for work than we think!

He's much better in his mind when he's working, gets much less stressed about things, and is much nicer to hack!
 
Our last week:

Tue- Hack 30 mins
Wed- Hack 1.5 hr
Thurs- Day Off
Fri -Hack 45 mins
Sat- Lunge 10 mins
Sun- Hack 1.25 hr
Mon- Day Off
Today- Hack 45 mins


Jazz usually has 1 or 2 days off a week
 
i hack for hours at a time so my main horse gets
3 hacks a week between 1-5 / 4hrs
2 lunge sessions 10 min on each rein
2 days off
 
I give mine a day off once per week - more for my benefit tho! I usually ride the day after a strenuos event if just to walk out for half hour, day off is usually the day after that. Or sometimes Friday when OH wants to get up to the pub before last orders.

Really wish I had time to do more than 45 mins on weekday nights too but no chance!
 
Mine usually gets a couple of days off a week - the days in question vary as it is more to do with me being busy than her needing the rest.
 
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