Turning away over the winter?

J

Jersey girl

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Hi all

I have a4yo who after being very lightly backed as a rising 4 has begun education this year and has progressed nicely over the summer with schooling, I've taken things steady and it's really started to come together. I'm now trying to make a decision over what to do for the winter..
Obviously restricted by weather/daylight hours I am not sure whether to a) totally winter off b) continue to school over the weekends/when able or c) leave the schooling but concentrate on hacking at weekends (something we haven't been able to do due to current yard)

I'd be interested to hear peoples opinions/experiences on what they have done with their young, newly backed horses at this time of year

Many thanks
 
I don't like youngsters in inconsistent work as i find it can encourage sharpness.

I've always turned away over winter and picked up again in the spring when there is enough daylight to work them consistently again.

From their 5yro winter they then stay in work as they are strong enough to cope with more schooling during the week when we can't hack out
 
I turned last year's 4 year old away for about 3 months over the worst of the weather as I was finding he was becoming sharp and spooky when hacking which wasn't his normal personality as I wasn't able to get enough work into him when my field was too wet to ride in. He came back into work about March time and was much better than before so I'm planning to do the same with the 4 year old I have been breaking this year although he isn't quite as far on at this point as last years as he is a bit sharper so we are taking things slowly!
 
It it were me and the horse was quite a mature 4yo (and didn't need to fill out more) then I'd be inclined to hack over the winter just to keep her ticking over but not asking much schooling-wise, just letting her have some fun.

My mare is 9 but I backed her only in May, she's totally matured obviously by her age so I really want to keep her going over the winter but its the practicalities of it which are difficult (I tend to ride once my 2yo son goes to bed but by then it'll be dark and I only have a grass paddock to ride in...). If I really can't work out how to ride during the week then I'll just work her at weekends, far from ideal but better than nothing.
 
Im planning on continuing riding my recently backed 4 year old until the weather gets awful, she will then have a holiday until the worst of the weather is gone. Id like to think she would have December and January off but I'll see how it goes.

I only ride her about 3 times at the moment and although she's rather hot, she's ok about it. I imagine trying to do that when its freezing cold and chucking it down it might be another story, hence the holiday!!
 
Backed my chap this year, he's only 3, but surprisingly mature for such a large horse and seems to 'need' the work, otherwise he's a bit boisterous and bolshy. I have been riding / or working him twice a week only and am planning on turning him away completely until next spring, and will get him back into full work then.
 
millitiger said:
I don't like youngsters in inconsistent work as i find it can encourage sharpness.

I've always turned away over winter and picked up again in the spring when there is enough daylight to work them consistently again.

From their 5yro winter they then stay in work as they are strong enough to cope with more schooling during the week when we can't hack out
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This, inconsistency is not good for babies. Even hacking just on the weekends is a pick up/drop off through the week scenario, so they never full get a break, but they never get consistency either.

I would rough off for the winter if I couldn't keep the consistency going.
 
I've turned my 'youngster' (she is actually quite old just been started late) away for the last two winters. The first summer we did lots of basics and then turned her away over the winter. The following autumn she had a knock in the field and she had three months turned away to heal. Worked really well with her as she is the type that needs to go away and think about what she has been doing to really get it. She came back into work this spring and hasn't looked back.

We usually turn our youngsters away for the first winter.
 
_GG_ said:
... inconsistency is not good for babies. Even hacking just on the weekends is a pick up/drop off through the week scenario, so they never full get a break, but they never get consistency either.

I would rough off for the winter if I couldn't keep the consistency going.
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I'm inclined to agree with the above.
 
The last few I babies I have had spent their 3rd and 4th year winters off for all the reasons outlined by others. Apart from anything else I have found they have grown, filled out and matured well over their 4th year winters and have been much more ready to crack on with come March/April of their 5th years than ones I have kept in "work" (term used loosely) over winter.
 
Last winter I turned my then 4yr old away (now 5) and it was the best thing for him really. Like you it would have been weekend riding only.

He widened by 2 saddle fittings over the space of a few months so he obviously needed a little time to grow out wards
 
Once they are four, unless they need to be turned away because they are weak or having a growth spurt, I prefer to keep them in regular work.

However I do have the time to ride in the day, I think if I was struggling with this I would prefer to turn away completely until the spring. Agree with the others, I think young horses do better being in consistent work or a proper holiday.
 
Thanks for all your thoughts. It's a hard one, as he's really come together these past 6weeks and I'd like to be able to continue on but reality is working hours won't allow once the nights draw in.
 
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