Turning recently backed horse away for winter

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Alphamare

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Your thoughts? Pros and cons?

I have a very large (still growing) recently backed four and a half year old. I am tempted to turn him away.

Will he forget everything he has learned?
He is still quite baby brained is it better to keep working him?
Would you turn away completely or bring out a few times to remind them (over and above normal care handling) of their lessons over the summer?

Who has done it? Who hasn't?
 
I have been told that they don't forget anything. When you get back on just remind them gently and they will be just the same as when you left them. Can't guarantee it - but the horse trainer who told me breaks them in for a living.
 
He will not have forgotten a thing (good or bad!) It is something I frequently do.

Recently I was given an 11 year old Cleveland Bay mare that had been used as a brood mare since she was four. The owner hadn't a clue if she had ever been ridden. Someone had certainly ridden her, she lunged and long reined perfectly, never raised her back when saddled. The only issue we had with her was actually mounting her. I am sure that something had happened with her being mounted because she was terrified (looked like we had chucked buckets of water over her when she stood at the mounting block) but fiddling around and letting her relax, she was fine and had certainly been ridden but was still very green. She had at least seven years of being turned away and remembered it all.
 
Yes!
My girls were both hacking nicely in company and even little walks alone.

Then turned away for soggy wet cold winter (im sooooo cruel! ;))
Then come spring they were nicely chilled out and sensible - A few long reining sessions and some gentle leaning over then back to where we left them.

Couldnt reccomend it enough! :)
 
The only country where horses are routinely turned away after breaking is Britain. Your horse will grow and mature whether you do it or not. Your choice, no necessity either way.

Personally, I couldn't see the point of taking a risk (however small) of having to start again when they are bigger and stronger so I've never done it. Mind you I wouldn't dream of schooling a young immature horse round and round in circles either, so it's better to turn away if you personally have no patience and would work them too much.
 
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certainly did my 10 yr old no harm, he was a late starter and struggled to get to grips with some aspects or ridden work...... like actually having to work lol:) he had time off due to my personal circumstances and then the weather last year and when we brought him back into work this summer it was like it had all clicked into place for him, he's still not perfect but at least we go forward more than backwards now:D
Hoping the winter off will have the same effect on one of the ponies who is 4 and a half, he's still such a baby:rolleyes:
 
cptrayes said:
The only country where horses are routinely turned away after breaking is Britain. Your horse will grow and mature whether you do it or not. Your choice, no necessity either way.

Personally, I couldn't see the point of taking a risk (however small) of having to start again when they are bigger and stronger so I've never done it. Mind you I wouldn't dream of schooling a young immature horse round and round in circles either, so it's better to turn away if you personally have no patience and would work them too much.
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Thank you for your view.

I agree that he will continue to grow but he is quite bum high (again) and their backs are the last places to fuse (growth plates). So i dont think having time off will hurt him.

I backed him very slowly as he is a big horse with a baby brain and i didnt want to do too much too fast. I have only had time to ride him once or twice a week (ridden) and dont do more than 30min at a time.

i wouldnt let him forget anything he had learned but i would really like him to level up some too.

I am undecided about turning him away completely or not. On one had i think it will be good for him and on the other i could just continue as i am not doing too much with him.

Its a hard decision to make. It seems to do most of them some good.

Maybe with him ill just have to play it by ear i dont know.
 
also with the potentially grotty weather if i have no pressure on me or him to feel that i 'have to' ride it may make it easier to bare :)
 
Alphamare said:
Its a hard decision to make. It seems to do most of them some good.
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Nobody knows whether it does any horse good, because no-one can turn the horse away and continue to work it at the same time :) There are people whose horses improved, but they may well have improved anyway. There are people who got bucked off and broke bones on restarting, but that may have happened anyway.

As long as you don't do more work than an immature body can stand, it won't matter one way or the other. Do what suits you best and will give you the most fun this winter.
 
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