Time off over winter?

[cheekers]

This is my first winter with my horse I have on loan and I'm starting to struggle to ride him very often with these dark evenings coming in so early. I'm thinking about giving him some time off over winter (maybe Jan/Feb when the weather gets fowl). He's out 24/7 with three others, and is doing really well.

Just curiosity really - does anyone else give their horses a winter holiday? Thanks!

 

[Woodland]

Hi there
I give my mare a holiday from October until the new year, and we start training again for Endurance starting again in March. I think I need a holiday as much as her!

 

[spotty_pony]

no, not really, I give mine a summer holiday (usually when I'm away for a week or something) because he works quite hard in the summer because of the summer holidays and shows etc.

I don't sturggle to ride mine in the winter because we have an indoor and outdoor school with floodlits so I ride after school and hack out at weekends. You could condider giving your pony some time of over the winter as long as he won't get too fizzy not having work for a while. Your other option would be to get someone to come and exercise your pony during the day.

Hope this helps x

 

[S_L_J]

I know of people who do that and for them it works fantastically. They get the extra time off when they need it most because of the dark, cold winter and trying to fit in the horse around work and family commitments. Instead of feeling guilty they aren't riding as much as they should, they are safe in the knowledge that both themselves and the horse are enjoying the break!

 

[cheekers]

Thanks, that's made me feel a better already about my decision. I know I'll probably have a hooligan on my hands come March (!) but it'll be better than feeling guilty about not riding him often enough.

 

[Gwenneh]

When it got too cold, we used to take time off from anything other than a little suppling/bending work at the walk. No sense in risking pulled muscles!

 

[RunToEarth]

My mare and big lad have time out over winter now their hunting days are over because I just dont have enough time in the day to exercise them, last year I tried having her ridden 3 times a week in floodlit arena, but to me that isnt enough exercise and is very tedius, so yes, winter holidays are good.

 

[filly190]

Your not on your own. Most professional horses have some time off at different periods of the year and it does them no harm at all.

I only weekend hack during the winter when i can, we are self employed and work some serious hours, making the lack of daylight time restrictive. I choose not to clip for this reason and let them down about end of October and start the build up to fitness in March. They are rugged and do come in at night being t.b's, so I cant avoid all work. With my young one it gives me more time to do ground work with her.

I personally enjoy the rest and so do my horses. There is no need to work a horse all year round and the more research you do into this, you will find that a lot of people rough them off for a rest period.

 

[Frazer]

Agree with what everyone else is saying! I read in to this a lot a couple of years ago! Giving your horses breaks, is a bit like your holiday to, you come back more relaxed, and ready to work... Mine will have about 2 months off in jan/feb, and then should be up for the summer season!
My main reason is, one of them is still young and mentally wouldn't be able to cope, and time! I cant keep them fit after christmas, so it makes sense to give them a break, rather than struggle to ride.

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

Just answered a simliar post in CR but over xmas as things get rushed and difficult i just hack for 2weeks with no schooling or competitions keeping his fitness up but giving him brain a bit of time to wind down and refresh. I also give him time off completely ranging from 2weeks to a month (depending on how hard hes worked) in september time after my eventing season is over.

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

I think riding them 2-3 times a week can keep them ticking over but look likes mines having winter break now ive gone and broken my anckle!

 

[riotgirl]

I only get to ride my girl at the weekends from when to clocks to back to about March time. She doesn't get het up as she is outside for 12+ hours a day. She does drop fitness , which is only to be expected, but she soon gains it again in the spring. I think the enforced break does us both good and stops us getting complacent with each other.

 

[Happytohack]

One of mine used to have really brittle feet, so I used to have his shoes off end of October and give him a holiday until Feb. He was always a hooligan anyway, and still is even though he is retired now -

 

[Bert&Maud]

I work full time too, although can usually manage 1/2 hour once or twice during the week, and then weekends. I quite like to keep mine "ticking over" during the winter otherwise it's such a long job to get them fit again. Obviously his work is less demanding, but it keeps him semi-fit and reasonably supple. A lot would depend on the type of horse, if it's likely to be nuts after a week without being ridden it's probably counter productive. Also, I think that older horses benefit from staying in light work to keep them mobile, my previous horse used to have time off in the winter and there was always a marked difference when I re-started work in the spring as he got older.

 

[jayvee]

If possible, there is no harm in gentle hacking at wk/ends. Least it keeps him in touch with life and ridden work. -Gives you something to look forward too aswell.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

My girl is pretty much getting ridden just at weekends now, then come spring we will be doing more again

 

[cariadssogreat]

Mine do gentle hacking at the weekends - and then they work their way up to daily work in the spring and summer.

 

[peapod]

Mine works quite hard during the summer as we do a lot of showing - so he has had from the end of September off, and I will probably not pick him up again (apart from pootling round a bit!) until the New year. It's a bit difficult because I'm desperate to go out and compete again, but I know Sonny needs the time off!