Time Off - Yes or No? and when?

[laurajane]

most of my friends tend to give their horses some time off, like a month or so break.

my mare has recently come back into work but both of mine are ridden atleast 4 times a week, tends to be 5 or 6. Is it worth giving the big lad some time off or not? I sort of see the point as it's just a rest period, and he'll get turned out, just wondered if it'd do him any good or not as i've never really done it unless theres been illness or accident?

what does everyone else do?

 

[HLOEquestrian]

I've never given any of my horses time off as such unless for a week or two when I have had exams or gone away or at the end of a busy season and they've just been out for a bit longer but not turned out 24/7. However I've always given my youngsters time off as I think it helps them to mature, my 5yo has currently been off since September and I plan on bringing him back at the end of this month. It's up to you really, depends how old, type of horse, type of work you do on him

 

[chestnut cob]

My 15yo had 6 or 7 weeks of over Xmas and NY - he seems to have really appreciated it as he has come back into work the most cheerful I have ever known him. He is forwards, wants to work and is totally full of himself. He is even enjoying school work, which is practically unknown for him! Apart from 3 or 4 days during the worst of the weather, he went out all day, every day and played stallions with the other boys. I've been surprised at how much benefit he seems to have gained from the holiday so I'll probably do the same every year now.

 

[katiecuckoo]

I give mine 2 months off at the end of the eventing season - most people agree that horses that are competed and very fit need an annual PROPER break... Although some people reckon that the 'letting down' of their fitness can be worse and may lead to injuries as they are brought back into work - so they keep them ticking over with 2 or 3 light hacks a week. I do it for psychological reasons - there's nothing like a fresh attitude after a proper break from work! HOWEVER with injuries / viruses etc they can sometimes end up forcing their own break, which is really annoying if I've just given them one deliberately.

 

[Piglet]

I don't give my horse time off unless the weather is really bad or he is lame etc. I can't see the point as he is not in hard work and only does Riding Club activities and hacking, if a horse is in hard work then a different story.