Turning away for afew months

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littlen

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Hi everyone,

Ive had abit of a bad couple of months with my horse and last week was forced to move yards again due to major problems there and i didnt feel my horse was safe any longer.

I found a new yard and moved him asap, and he seems happier already and it has only been a week. However, i have recently had alot of problems at work meaning i am now doing alot of extra hours for a month, and also my car has been written off and i can not afford another until the insurance payout estimated in 4-6 weeks. Now due to the new yard being so far away im finding it impossible to get to the yard in time after work, and find the time to ride, and was thinking about turning him out for afew months and not riding him at all.
Will this do him any harm or more harm than good?
Will all of the hard work i have put in become undonewithin a month or 2?
How long would it take to bring him back into work?

Obviously i will still check him everyday but he has had a stressful few months as have i and i am concidering this, he is on grass livery so his routine wouldnt really change?
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It may be a good idea because of all the other things in your life such as the car, work etc. Depending on how long he is turned away a 6 week fitness programme would be the ideal when he resumes work.
 
A holiday is never a bad idea. It will give him time to chill out and if you are not under pressure to do things with your horse you will chill out to making for a better relationship. You won't have to rush to ride so could perhaps get him in for a bit of a fuss and a carrot.
As for coming back into work - slow and steady.You know your horse best.
 
I just feel I dont have the time to keep him in regular work, and cant get to him every day so he may be better just to be a horse and have a break. He has has a stressful few months with 2 yard moves, alot of hassle with herd mates and also afew vets visits and he might just need some time to chill out, and i certainly need some time to sleep!

What worries me is the lack of work making him very flighty, and also maintaining his conditiion as i dont want him huge or to loose all muscle wastage, but i cant restrict his grazing as i dont have a stable. He has never had weight problems before but i dont want them to start now!
 
Lack of work might make him a bit bit flighty but hopefully he will be so chilled when he comes back in it won't be an issue. Yes he will lose a bit of muscle depending on how long he's turned out but you can always build that back up when he's in work. As for getting huge - is he prone to being a bit tubby ?
Could try a grazing muzzle or restrict his grazing with some electric fencing.
 
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What about a sharer or loan for the summer?

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I have thought about this, and did advertise but only got novices or 10 year old children and he is not a novice or a childs ride unfortunatley. Also my yard is in the middle of nowhere so any sharer would need transport.


He isnt prone to weight gain, although he has been known to get the typical grass belly everyone gets in the summer. He is on a small well grazed field at the moment so not tonnes of grass, but may be moving to a new one soon as our fields are rotated every so often.
 
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