My horse really doesn't get ridden in winter

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skewbald_again

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He's a happy hacker, ex nanny to my two daughters who no longer need nannying, and I just don't seem to be able to fit it in.
I was feeling guilty about this, and then I got to thinking, back in the day, when Moses and I were still young, nearly all horses only worked half a year! Hunters were turned away for the summer, show horses for the winter, even show jumping was a summer sport.
My first job I seem to recall, there was a bit of box juggling when the brood mares and foals who'd been shown were being turned away but not really until after the hunters had come in for fittening, but it wasn't a problem for long.
Nobody thought a thing of it and horses possibly felt better for it. So I've stopped feeling guilty.

Bouquets? Or Brickbats?!

eta that symbol was meant to be a lightbulb. clicked the wrong do daddy and have no idea what a green arrow means :)
 
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As long as they have the same structured programme of reintroduction to any hard work like hunters do, and as long as they dont end up too fat, then its fine as long as its a horse who copes well with no work.

I had no choice last winter, 3 months of continuous deep snow (we are in Cairngorms!)meant a very long break for mine. Ideally it wouldnt have been that long but after a while you have to go with the flow!
 
Yes, I remember those times and the shoes were sensibly pulled too!

With all year round competing and horses being bred as all-rounders, it's not happening any more is it? They were bred to do a particular job, horses for courses and all that. They certainly seemed heathier for it.
 
I was feeling guilty about not riding in the week due to dark nights, and then I thought back to my teens - our hunters used to get the summer off - so my boy, being a happy hacker, is going to get most of the winter off, I'll just ride at weekends - and I am sure he will be fine with that!
 
Until I sold my horse last winter I used to ride about 4 times a week during the winter as the yard has a all weather outdoor school and an indoor school so no excuse really!! However years ago when i had a horse at home she got substantally less riding n the winter as we had no school. i mainy hacked so it was weekends if the weather wasn't too bad and duriing the school holidays. i don't think it does them any harm at all to have riding.
 
Well I'm glad I'm not alone. It's made me feel distinctly better to think that those splendid horsemen (who really did have endless time and money! and serfs like me to take care of everything!) would probably turn in their graves at the notion of a hunter not spending summer snoozing under the trees in the parkland, don't you know!
The children's ponies were in a constant gentle curve into and out of sort of semi fitness, as they (reread: the children, not the ponies .....) were all away at boarding school, and they would be brought in for the holidays and sort of toned up a bit and then let back down for the term again. All those old devils went on to age 35/40 and never seemed to be lame or ill!
 
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