what do all the HHo eventers do over the winter???

pinktiger

pinktiger

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just curious as to what you will all be doing over the winter. ie; horse turned away on holiday, or hunting, or BSJA BD!!

do you get bored? or are you glad of the gap?
 
Glad of the break for about a week, then bored for about 4 months.

This year horses will stay in work but fitness levels will be dropped down (they will only work 3 or 4 times a week - too difficult when it is dark all the time - we have no school).

We will do a spot of BSJA and have as many dressage lessons as I can afford.
 
The 4 year old has had it's hols and Sarnie doesn't like them. So will keep ticking over with the BSJA and dressage.Will try and hunt the 4 year old but Sarnie is too precious to hunt down here.

Don't enjoy the winter find it very hard to cope with the dark!
 
No time off for mine, he needs a winter of serious BSJA to get his SJing up to scratch ready for moving him up to novices next season.

He is having a week and a bit of gentle hacking now as a break from schooling then I will crack on and get him out showjumping as much as possible. He will be worked most days as becomes unridable if given more than on day off
 
merlin goes on his first ever holiday after his last event for a month
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then he comes back in around mid december for fitness work and pc comps ie. showjumping and dressage
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the odd hunt and hunter trial maybe, depending on whether or not merlin trys to kill himself in the field
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and maybe some training clinics if funds allow
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cry - as I can't go xc...

once im over that, horse is having 2 weeks off, 2 weeks long-reining, 2 weeks lungeing, 2 weeks hacking, 2 weeks flatwork, 2 weeks jumping then...

the xc schooling starts again - yay!
 
This is my first year eventing, but like madhector, aiming to go Novice next year so I need to practice my dressage and sj! he's in the middle of a fortnight's real gentle work and in fact will get half a week off after oasby. Then he'll be back into serious lessons and work on flatwork ready for combined training series, and some hunting so i'm not too bored!
 
Have a break for about 3 weeks, then get frustrated.
Fitness will drop quite a bit because of the nights.
I will do unaff dressage probably about twice a month and unaff sj once a month. There is nothing aff within 3 hours for me.
 
Moon has already had her month off and is now back in light work which she will remain in up to December. She's schooled twice a week and hacked twice. She'll do a bit of low level BSJA over th next couple of months to keep her sweet (1.10/1.15) and some unaff dressage when I find the time.

After xmas things get a bit more serious and she'll be back in proper work
 
Mine's had a couple of 'proper' holidays over the summer as I think he gets more benefit from a mid-season break when he can pootle around the field in the sun.

He's mostly stabled full time in the winter so has to stay in work, but the work is much more low key. Shorter more relaxed hacks, very little work in the school, hunting 3 days a fortnight or so, the odd BSJA (I WILL jump a Foxhunter clear before March...) and as many dressage lessons as I can afford.

He is a hunting machine so although it isn't a holiday for his body it is for his mind as I think mentally the eventing is quite hard work.
 
Mine also has a hols mid summer in the sun,
Winter is quieter as he is hacked/schooled 4x roughly a week
We are BDing, and HUNTING (mainly over christmas) unless the ground is too bad for young spindly legs! starts long and slow road to full fitness road work and all 2nd week in Feb.
 
One of mine is sold (Yayyyy!) One will have short hols after Aldon (2 weeks probably) then straight back into light work approx 3 times a week, hacking and schooling, bit of jumping, then back into proper work after Christmas. Other one has been off since May but now ready to start the long slow road back so will start his walking straight after Aldon, build up slowly so hopefully, scan permitting, ready to start schooling and proper fitness work some time in New Year.
 
Cry because the season is over and there is no more XC or "outdoor" activities just BD and BSJA
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On a serious note, Dougal will have a little holiday after Sat. And Dexter hs just had 3 mths off de to lameness
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so thats his rest done!!!

Dexter comes back into work nxt week just walking for 2 weeks then the vet is out to check then fingers crossed just gradually picking the work up. I hope to get at least one BSJA and one BD in on him in December.

Then both just light work over xmas, then mid Jan start cracking for the season
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BSJA and BD, XC schooling etc I also aim to give JAS a go on both of them nxt year, but then I coul dbe there all day long! With Doug in the Intro and PN and Dext the Nov and Open!
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Also have a week booked with an eventer start of Feb with both boys to get me going
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Lots of hunting, thinking I might go out with the bloodhounds as well this time. Maybe a team chase or too. Lots of BSJA and dressage so we can come out ready and raring to go next year
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Hector and HumungaHorse are having a few weeks' holiday and will then hunt a bit and BSJA, ideally once a week. Baby Baydale will be 4 next year so will come in in March to start grown-up work, and I have got a 5yo coming in March who will also do BYEH classes, and maybe another 5yo coming in January. No rest for the wicked eh?
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As for me, I become Chief Schooler of Hunters so that OH can just get on and press the buttons for Stop/Go/Jump Higher/Gallop Faster. My main projects are two very nice 5yos: one is very green, the other not so green, but I can see already that I will be contributing regularly to our hunt Tumble Fund.
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G is on holiday for another 4wks+, then just lots of fun stuff for him, so little SJing, hunting etc, then another couple of weeks off in Jan, then fitness work and bigger SJing and bloodhounding ready for the eventing season to start!
 
Mine has just been turned out for a couple of weeks after completing her 12th prenovice of the season on sunday (in that horrible weather!) Over the winter I try to chill out a bit and not get too dogmatic about riding her everyday, towards the end of the season it becomes a bit of a chore. I aim to do some BD and sj clinics , as actual BSJA indoor warm-ups scare the cr*p out of me!!!
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I am going to turn my boys out for a well-earned rest over the winter. I am going to diligently put away the equivalent BE entry fees every month, so next season doesn't hurt so much. I am going to get all my tack cleaned, oiled, repaired, and properly put away,so there are no nasty surprises when they come back into work. I am going to sweep and tidy the tack room,so everything is organised, and everyone knows where everything is. The lorry will be steam cleaned, inside and out,and sent to the mechanic for it's annual physical.
**** IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, YOU'LL BELIEVE ANYTHING!! ****
In reality, they will stay out getting woollier for a couple of weeks,until I can bear to wrestle with the clippers. Then they will do as much BSJA and BD (trying the BE Eventers' membership scheme) as fitness levels,dark nights and enthusiasm will allow (enthusiasm falls off this time of year,along with the fitness!). Also lots of winter training, BD take note! Want to be ecstatic this time next year with a sub 30 dressage test - TVII take note! As for saving the entry fees - it just ain't gonna happen!!!!!! IF we can sell Ginger Thing, the other big boys will get spoilt and brought in at night this winter. Unless that happens, (three horses won't fit in two stables!) they will all winter out, with low blanket clips and Mr Heavyweight Horseware for company! It's our first winter with P - he may turn out to be a wuss and have to come in,we'll have to wait and see!
 
I usually give my horses a couple of months of over the winter. Two are out already, the 4 year old who just needs to get strong and grow for next year, and my 7 year old who has had a good season at PreNovice. So they are both out, no rugs but big field shelter and plenty to eat. The new boy, 5 year old, hasnt done much with his previous owner this year so is going to do a couple of HT and then some dressage (it's appalling, so needs lots of work!!). Then he'll have some time off over Christmas. Then in Jan they all come in, get clipped and start walking etc for the new season. I find by this time of the year they need a break to recover from the season, put on weight, chill out and they've prob had enough of me riding them every day! Has worked well for me, as they usally come in keen to get going again for the next season and I've had a good break to get everything organised and saved some money for next year.
 
My comp horses just started their break after last event of the season. Will have a few weeks off, then will be kept ticking over Nov/Dec. Threatening to do BD with the one who's been getting sub-30 BE dressage scores, and threatening to do BSJA with the one that's been going clear sj at BE. We shall see!

Have already been diligent and start sorting through all tack/rugs, etc and noting all the jobs that need done around the yard now that I'm actually at home during the weekends.

Mind you, I found myself in B&Q on a Sunday afternoon. Is this what I've got to look forward to for the next few months...?!?
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Usually ponies would have a holiday for a month. Actually mainly for me.
They both hate holidays and get bored and stamp their feet by the gate asking to come in to do things.
This year I had a year off Eventing. I enjoyed taking Molineux to events and advising her. Lived my eventing through many HHO members here in fact.
This year both horses have played at dressage and been sucessful.
For now, one horse pottering along, the other still off all games after an operation.
Big horse will continue to get fitter over the winter and I may be forced to join BSJA again with him.
The young one I hope will be back and competing by the new year. With any luck be back kicking some butt in the stressage arena and eventing by late spring.

Equally Ive learnt not to do too much planning and anything this winter is a bonus
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Frankie is currently on a three week hoilday on good grass to fatten him up for the winter. They will move up to our stable by the end of the month and will be clipped, in at night and back into work. LOTS of dressage and SJ for me this winter need to be jumping 1.20 confidently before next season. Lessons as and when I can afford them. Planning on doing intro JAS with Woody and Novice and Open with Frankie in prep for next season. lots of hacking as we have no school.
 
wow you all sound still quite busy! I havent evented this year as sold eventer last year and have been backing youngster this year. Loved eventing and got so bored in the winter!!! When you think about it, if you do the JAS the event season starts in Feb, so its not so bad! Am hoping to join all you eventers agian soon starting with the Burghleys next year!!!
 
Well song on a very long holiday until his stem cell treatment is finished (its only just begun!!) and have been told he will be having 6-9 months off.
Buster have just recovered from rolling under a wooden gate (6 and 7 staples in each back fetlock!!) so is back out in the field and will be coming in about Xmas time to start to become a proper event pony and not a useless racing pony!!
And Gogs well gogs is just gogs ridden when i have the time but loving being out 24/7!!
 
We'll expect to see you out and about again then
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Speaking on behalf of Rosie (which I probably shouldn't but she's off to Weston tomorrow so she'll most likely never see this).

The horses - a bit of a rest (we're all off to Cornwall for a few days next Wednesday) then they'll BSJA and hopefully some lessons/dressage + generally a bit of hacking I suspect. Lottie will hunt but I don't know about Bertie. Then back into some proper work in the new year I guess.
The rider - has 4 hunt horses to turn out (twice a week I think) then there's the pointers to get fit - two coming in this weekend for other owners + two which belong to her Dad's Dad. Possibly another one in a few weeks time (5 yr old maiden). Trips to the gallops, jump training and then - from the end of November - racing them.

She does have some help with all this but I doubt she's going to have time to get bored
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1. try and save some money so I can afford to event next season
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2. i have a far fetched plan to hack to some BD dressage
3. scrounge lifts from YO to attempt to get out doing some 'proper' showjumping
4. perhaps risk life and limb hunting the wild girl
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Well I'm not really an eventer as I've only managed 3 PNs this year but I'll answer anyway...

We are going to get back to having some propper fun - HUNTING!!!
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When I can afford. Maybe the odd BSJA and dressage lesson, although probably not that latter!
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