Rest days - how many?

[SEL]

Prompted by a thread on here and a FB by shouty vet which I keep seeing shared - what workload do you find requires a rest day afterwards?

I've been pondering this looking at plans for April. Currently I'm looking at a week where I have a semi-private jumping lesson on Thurs (20 mins in lorry) then a day camp on Sat (45 mins on lorry each way plus 2 x 1 hour lessons). My dilemma is the RC dressage follows on the Sunday (30 mins lorry) and if it's a fair ask. Pony is fit but finds travelling backwards hard.

I tend to only give 2 days off in a row if it's really been a hard ride - some of the hilly fast fun rides for instance - but SV isn't the first person to give a longer break for what I think isn't particularly challenging work.

 

[TheMule]

I wouldn’t do the Sunday dressage thing- day camps tend to be quite intensive, plus the waiting around for the horse and the length of travel.
I give a day off after jumping or fast work and always at least 1 day off after a competition, 2 days if eventing/ more intensive

 

[dorsetladette]

If you hadn't mentioned him finding travelling hard I'd have said crack on and give him a quiet day either side, but I'm swaying in the direction of the 3rd consecutive day being to much.

You know your horse better than anyone on here or a shouty vet on facebook.

 

[Surbie]

Personally I wouldn't do the 2 consecutive days, so Thurs and Sat or Thurs and Sun, depending on your preferences. You know your horse best - and I am assuming the fact that you are asking means you probably think it's too much to do it all.

 

[Roxylola]

Is RC dressage a lesson or competition? If it's a competition, what level, and how competitive do you want to be?
It is a lot, but presume the day camp is group lessons so there will be time spent walking/hanging around.
I probably wouldn't bother if the dressage is a lesson, I might do a low level test, on the basis id probably do a very easy warm up, be prepared to scratch on the day if I felt it was a bit much, and wouldn't expect to place - often club stuff attendance gets you points so I understand not wanting to miss.
That said, I'd consider it a bit more than ideal and probably wouldn't ideally do all of it. Im quite happy to do an entry and scrap on the day though - lots of people feel they have to go as it's paid for

 

[Squeak]

Just to add to the above but would your horse go well on the Sunday? As that could make it pointless doing the Sunday anyway if you're not going to get the performance you want anyway.

 

[Britestar]

I tend to exercise on alternate days. They are more then able to 2/3 days in a row if needed, but on the whole I do day on day off.

This is also helpful when you've 2 to ride as they both are kept going.

 

[SEL]

Is RC dressage a lesson or competition? If it's a competition, what level, and how competitive do you want to be?
It is a lot, but presume the day camp is group lessons so there will be time spent walking/hanging around.
I probably wouldn't bother if the dressage is a lesson, I might do a low level test, on the basis id probably do a very easy warm up, be prepared to scratch on the day if I felt it was a bit much, and wouldn't expect to place - often club stuff attendance gets you points so I understand not wanting to miss.
That said, I'd consider it a bit more than ideal and probably wouldn't ideally do all of it. Im quite happy to do an entry and scrap on the day though - lots of people feel they have to go as it's paid for

It's a comp and we'd only be doing prelim but yup, wondering if it's a bit too much. If the day camp was the following day I wouldn't worry too much but I think he'll be shattered - using up a lot of goodwill by loading up again the following morning. Both events are RC which is a bit frustrating.

Personally I wouldn't do the 2 consecutive days, so Thurs and Sat or Thurs and Sun, depending on your preferences. You know your horse best - and I am assuming the fact that you are asking means you probably think it's too much to do it all.

You're right - I've been dithering! The camp is already booked and I don't really need to rock up to trot circles at dressage, but they are chasing numbers.

Thanks everyone. Trouble when you're on your own is no one to bounce ideas off. Mr sel just looks at me blankly.

I tend to exercise on alternate days. They are more then able to 2/3 days in a row if needed, but on the whole I do day on day off.

This is also helpful when you've 2 to ride as they both are kept going.

Mine have to fit in around work! And weather recently.

 

[maya2008]

I read some research once that showed 2 days in a row is best - but mine don’t really do that much work and the young ones are insane after 2 days off in a row for most of the year so…we don’t do that unless in mid winter!

We give a day off after anything that is much more work than normal - or once a week as scheduled in milder seasons and twice a week in summer when they are in more work.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I tend to give Faran the day off after an endurance ride and two days after a ride out as it’s a lot of miles. An arena hire or a lesson he will get a gentle hack the day after but just continue his usual week. He gets two days off a week on average for normal riding weeks in winter he gets more as unless I’m hacking out by headtorch ir going to a lesson in the trailer he only gets ridden at the weekends

 

[frankieduck]

I don’t feel qualified to answer given my other thread

But depending on the horse I’d probably do the dressage. Mine is better a bit tired as he produces a less tense test, so I’ll often jump him the day before dressage or take him up the gallops and then give him the day off afterwards. Seems to work for us. We only compete at Prelim though and he only needs about 15 minutes to warm up, then riding a 5 minute test, so I don’t feel it’s a lot for him to do. If we were at a higher level that required collection, riding multiple tests, or he needed a long warm up, it would be different.

 

[YourValentine]

I think it's the travel, and that he doesn't travel well, that makes the Sunday possibly a bit much. I don't think the workload on a fit horse who has time turned out to chill in between is too much.

 

[Lady Jane]

My horse's physio rides him and recommends a gentle leg stretch the day after hard excercise, then a day off. Hard excercise = hunter trials not flat work lesson but it depends how fit your horse is. If you can turn out over night after hard exercise that's even better.
In your case I would do gentle exercise Friday and probably skip the Sunday altogether

 

[SEL]

My horse's physio rides him and recommends a gentle leg stretch the day after hard excercise, then a day off. Hard excercise = hunter trials not flat work lesson but it depends how fit your horse is. If you can turn out over night after hard exercise that's even better.
In your case I would do gentle exercise Friday and probably skip the Sunday altogether

He's out 24.7 which really does help the muscles after hard exercise. I can usually tell if he's properly tired because he'll have a roll & a drink then vanish into the shelter. He does find travelling backwards hard and I often think it's a bigger workout than some of the clinics we do.

I've asked if I can do dressage HC and take the feral, hairy pony instead of him. Keeps the numbers up and they can all laugh at me trying to rise to her trot.

 

[SEL]

I tend to give Faran the day off after an endurance ride and two days after a ride out as it’s a lot of miles. An arena hire or a lesson he will get a gentle hack the day after but just continue his usual week. He gets two days off a week on average for normal riding weeks in winter he gets more as unless I’m hacking out by headtorch ir going to a lesson in the trailer he only gets ridden at the weekends

I always find you endurance guys interesting because you absolutely have to nail the exercise & rest regimes. When I used to help exercise 2 endurance horses the owner thought nothing of 8 hours of hacking over the weekend - & the horses at many trekking centres do similar.

My lot are lazy in comparison!

 

[nikkimariet]

It does depend on the horse and I think it hinges on how much you are doing at the day camp, they tend to be full on. As a one off, probably fine? Wouldn’t do it too often.

My competing is intense and usually 2 hours of travel either side. I wouldn’t take him for a long hack the day after and equally wouldn’t take him for a lesson the day before.

A few weeks ago I did 2.5hr driving either way and 12 miles hacking. He hadn’t been ridden the 2 days before and I gave him the day after off. 12 miles is nothing for him but with the travel it’s a lot. Likewise, last week lesson Thurs, light hack Fri, comp sat and therefore sun off. He was out in the field all day sun and I wanted a lie in tbh!!!!

 

[Cragrat]

Ours have had a very intense 3 days (camp), with lots of travel too, so had 2 days off. Now we have another busy week:

Hack today,
75min each way journey tomorrow to do 1 x dressage and 1 x SJ round.
Day off Friday,
Hack Saturday,
Arena Eventing hire on Sunday, 90 mins each way.
Flat lesson on Monday evening, 60 mins each way.

I think I'll give them the following 2 days off!

But they are fit, and travel well. We have to travel, because all those are our closest venues ( apart from one which is only 45 mins each way, but doesn't run so much stuff)

 

[Sussexbythesea]

If he were an easy traveller I think I would do it. My issue though in your situation would be souring him to getting on a horsebox for a third day in a row when he’s potentially tired (tired muscles). Especially as you know he doesn’t find it easy.

 

[dorsetladette]

He's out 24.7 which really does help the muscles after hard exercise. I can usually tell if he's properly tired because he'll have a roll & a drink then vanish into the shelter. He does find travelling backwards hard and I often think it's a bigger workout than some of the clinics we do.

I've asked if I can do dressage HC and take the feral, hairy pony instead of him. Keeps the numbers up and they can all laugh at me trying to rise to her trot.

I think this is a perfect solution - and we need photo's of the hairy cob trot now you've mentioned it!

FYI - I prefer a rest day to be out 24/7 so they move around helping sore muscles recover gently and naturally.

 

[SEL]

If he were an easy traveller I think I would do it. My issue though in your situation would be souring him to getting on a horsebox for a third day in a row when he’s potentially tired (tired muscles). Especially as you know he doesn’t find it easy.

He's hypermobile so in small quantities the lorry is really helpful - like a wobble board I think! - but tiring for him multiple days and long trips.

I think this is a perfect solution - and we need photo's of the hairy cob trot now you've mentioned it!

rising trot is hilarious - although my thighs don't agree.

 

[I'm Dun]

The fact your quite dainty as well does make you look identical to the bay thelwell pony

He's hypermobile so in small quantities the lorry is really helpful - like a wobble board I think! - but tiring for him multiple days and long trips.


rising trot is hilarious - although my thighs don't agree.

 

[ponynutz]

Anything where they have to travel or gallop a lot especially if horse finds travelling hard.
So beach days, fun rides, XC schooling/rides, competitions, arena hires, a particularly long hack.

If they're okay to travel I might exclude clinics/arena hires from that depending on how much/what they did.

I personally wouldn't do a 'camp' and then a competition tbh but the Thursday hire and then Saturday camp should be fine.

 

[SEL]

The fact your quite dainty as well does make you look identical to the bay thelwell pony

You aren't the first to mention Thelwell I might embrace it and turn up to dressage in pigtails

 

[irishdraft]

I always give my mare 2 consecutive days off after hunt rides etc ,she isn't a good traveller but ride for 5 consecutive days beforehand, this is to keep her fit but I only travel once a week x

 

[SEL]

My riding club kindly asked the judge if I could compete at Intro in a hackamore and she agreed. Now this pony hasn't been in a school for nearly 4 years and I don't even school her in the field unless my saddler is up.

No one told her she was the reserve horse though - she totally and utterly bossed it! I was clueless how well we'd done against other riders and promptly burst into tears when I realised we'd won - with over 70%.

I'm just grateful that she can be ridden - and breathe - because 3 years ago that wasnt guaranteed. Given what I know about her body I think we'll be back to happy hacking but I'm just so incredibly chuffed for her. Obviously an auspicious day because my old YO sent me a photo from 6 years ago when her BOGOF foal was born