Recovering after travelling? How long?

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franlottie

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My horse and I are driving 70 miles on Saturday to go competing. This is about 1hr 45mins. The Sunday after, 8 days later, we are then off again eventing, the journey being about the same length. How long/many days would you give your horse off after travelling that far? I know travelling has a lot of physical and mental after-stress on the horse. I'm thinking a couple or the day after off and then a gentle ride the next day.
Any opinions appreciated! Thanks :)
 
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The usual way to think about it is to treat it as if the horse has walked for the entire time of the journey.

I'm presuming you are competing on Saturday then on the Sunday 8 days later rather than the next day?
 
I wouldn't, because I don't consider that to be very far. My usual practice is to walk hack the day after a competition, and turn out, so that's what I would do.
 
If the horse is used to travelling and the transport decent with a good driver it should be akin to them standing in a stable eating their hay.
 
As long as horse is reasonably fit and used to travelling then I'd do nothing special as to me that's not excessive travel. Id have a gentle hours walk/trot hack the next day, day off then crack on as normal
 
I don't think anything of a journey of that length, we will travel that distance just to go xc schooling :)

We usually give a day off after an event, whatever the distance, so I wouldn't give more than a day off.

My lot regard the trailer as a moving stable, in fact sometimes I think they like it more because they have continual access to food!
 
I think it depends on the horse

my horse is just starting to go out, so I always give him the following day off, as I think the travelling plus the experience of what he is doing, is going to be mentally challenging for him! we went to the beach last Saturday, was an hour and half each way in the trailer, the longest he's ever travelled and we were on the beach for an hour an 15ish! so that's a lot more than he'd have done if he was at home! he always looks tired when he gets home!
 
Oh crikey. It depends on the horse.

We will travel 2-3 hours, ride, fast - because we don't do slow, for 30 or 40km, then travel home, then probably have a day off the next day - only because I am knackered, otherwise I'll go out for an hour or so the day after.

To me up to 2 hours one way is nothing out of the ordinary, 30km is nothing, a fast trail ride of that length probably doesn't compare to eventing, so I would give a day off, or a walk, then pick up your usual exercise routine.
 
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If its anything more than 2hrs Id probably want to book a night's stay before so my horse could relax especially for a competition /event. I have travelled her 3hrs and gone for gentle hack. But Im doing a 5hr trip with her and I won't be riding the first day after that. But my horse is old so I don't like to push too much, depends on your horse.
 
franlottie said:
My horse and I are driving 70 miles on Saturday to go competing. This is about 1hr 45mins. The Sunday after, 8 days later, we are then off again eventing, the journey being about the same length. How long/many days would you give your horse off after travelling that far? I know travelling has a lot of physical and mental after-stress on the horse. I'm thinking a couple or the day after off and then a gentle ride the next day.
Any opinions appreciated! Thanks :)
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competition horses travel further than that and as long as it is a good traveler and you drive and give it a smooth ride than a day or so. 1 1/2 hrs is not that far, my pony traveled 5 hrs here and my first ID traveled 4 1/2hrs here. When I collected my new horse in July last year I took 1 1/2hrs to get home and she was none the worst
 
I'm at an away show now with daughter and her pony 100 miles here on Thursday jumping until Tuesday then 100 miles home day or 2 off when we get back then back to normal.
She is fit for the job looks well ect. She does get 2 weeks off completely in the field in the winter then 2 weeks refittining then back to shows again. Although I won't go to one next weekend after been away over this week.
 
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