Turning away my rising 5 year old horse

[R2R]

I backed and broke my youngster in June this year. He is straightforward, quiet, and lives in or out. He is currently living out in my back fields and for the past month has been being ridden three or four times a week due to the awful weather and the fact I work full time as well as having a yard!

I was wondering if it would be detrimental to turn him away for a couple of months till the weather changes? Will I have to re-back and break him when I bring him back into work?

I have a friends horse to compete, as well as a selling project to be getting on with, and I am struggling to fit it all in with the light etc, and would rather be consistent than not. My plan is to let him down until Christmas, then turn him away in Jan and Feb, bringing him slowly back into work through March so he will be fit by April/May (which suits too becasue the clocks will change)

Also, when turning something away for what effectively is 1 and a half shoeings, should I just leave him shod?

Thanks

 

[Luckylocalian]

I turned my youngster away at 5/6 and was the best thing I ever did. I would recommend shoes off personally

 

[KatB]

It wont do him any harm I am sure. I would probably take shoes off, to save the cost of a shoeing

I'm waiting until the weather gets better again to turn mine out so she gets the benefit of the grass, but can completely understand why you would over winter!!

 

[Divasmum]

I would turn him away if I were you. He will still remember a lot of things when he comes back into work.

 

[R2R]

I just feel like I am being a lazy so and so! I have non riding guilt complex

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

I always turn youngsters away. I break at the summer of them being either 4 or 5, breed dependant, and then turn them away for all of winter, and sometimes spring to.
I think it does them a lot of good, and would never not turn away. And yes, I would take shoes off.

 

[R2R]

So will I have to re-break him?

Ooooh I suddenly feel much better abou life!

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

You won't have to re-break him, but what I do is start at the beginning again, and go through it quickly. So in effect you are 'reminding' him of what he has learnt rather than re-teaching.

 

[R2R]

so lunging/longreining etc?

So long as I dont have to back him again...had enough fun the first time

 

[Echo Bravo]

Best thing you can do,take his shoes off, bring back in the spring, they never forget what they have been taught and he will be much better and sensible.

 

[cptrayes]

[ QUOTE ]
so lunging/longreining etc?

So long as I dont have to back him again...had enough fun the first time

[/ QUOTE ]


If you mean by "had enough fun" that he was difficult to back, then the last thing I would do is turn him away and risk him being difficult again when he is bigger and stronger than he was the first time. Especially as five is the peak year of naughtiness for many young horses. You'll be bringing him back into work at just the age when a lot of them start trying to throw their weight around. Rather you than me

 

[Nari]

I turned my welsh cob away at rising 5, I just wasn't inclined to do much with him over the winter so I gave him time off. He was still brought in every nght because his main job is being a companion but he wasn't ridden for probably 4 months.

He was absolutely no trouble to bring back into work. I long-reined him one day then the next I lunged him for a few minutes before getting my RI to stand with him while I got on. He really couldn't have cared less & picked up just where he'd left off, I was very impressed. Having said that he was also a very easy lad to break, basically as long as you're calm & confident nothing much flaps him.

I think he was better for the time off. It gave him time to mature physically & mentally.