What do you do with your horse when you go on holiday?

[Orv]

I'm not too sure what to do with my horse when I go away in 4 weeks time.

Last year I gave him a week off in the field. He thrives on being worked so spent the whole time being a twerp charging about and threw 2 large splints, fortunately they didn't cause any lameness.

This year I am tempted to give him another week off, but I don't fancy a re-run of last year. I have thought about getting the grooms to hack him out so he still gets a bit of a holiday ...BUT...he naps badly out hacking and it's taken me 2.5 years to get to the point I am at now with him and I don't want him resorting back to his previous behaviour as someone new is on him or having a wobbly and hurting someone.

Other options being packing him off to boot camp at my trainers for a week, but he would most probably have no turn out (which he hates) and becoming rather unsettled as he's a sensitive soul, so when he comes back, it's going to take a few weeks to settle him again.

If only he could fit on a plane, easiest option would be to take him with me!

 

[NicoleS_007]

Usually id turn mine out and a friend would bring him in for a while during the day as i dont like anyone riding him as he can be a bit of a prun sometimes lol ...You could turn him out and get someone to bring him in during the day and lunge him maybe.

 

[Fourlegsgood]

Ha ha, this is easy. I have horses - I don't have holidays.

 

[BigRed]

I leave them in the small paddock close to the house and my friend, who house sits, keeps an eye on them. If I am a bit flush they go to my trainer for a week. The shetland causes a great deal of amusement because the posh dressage horses do not seem to have ever seen such a small pony.

 

[Shutterbug]

Normally he would get chucked out in a field and my friend who house sits for me would check on him daily and feed him his supplements however, seeing as we are schooling in preparation for a show, my new YO will be schooling him for me daily. So no holidays for Arion and Im off to Alton Towers for a long weekend next week

 

[MissMoo]

Ha ha, this is easy. I have horses - I don't have holidays.

Same here!

 

[nickib]

Im going to Canada for 2 weeks at the end of the month, my friend who keeps her horse at same place is having him for these 2 weeks shes basically going to treat him as her own so I know he'll be well looked after.

 

[dressager]

I'm in a similar position. Until recently horse was based with trainer so no problems when I had to go away, but I've recently moved yard and am going away for 2 weeks. I don't want anyone else riding him (think everyone at new yard would be too scared after seeing him on 2 legs!) so I'm getting my friend to do ground work with him instead. Lunging, long reining, walking out in hand (mega spooky on the roads) as I don't get the time to do all that. That way it keeps his brain occupied and helps his schooling too. Ground work is very good for napping. My horse spooks, rears then spins and there's very little you can do whilst on board so I know the feeling!

Perhaps you know someone experienced who could do the same if you don't want them to ride? As long as all the proper insurance is in place you should be able to go away with some peace of mind!

 

[Orv]

My horse spooks, rears then spins and there's very little you can do whilst on board so I know the feeling!

Perhaps you know someone experienced who could do the same if you don't want them to ride? As long as all the proper insurance is in place you should be able to go away with some peace of mind!

Well...he's also a monkey to handle, he's handled in a chifney as he likes to rear, spin and sod off in hand (he sounds a delight doesn't he, ha!)
He sounds like your horse during a napping episode, but you cannot get off him whilst he's having a "moment" the times I have, he has got away from me and galloped off down a road he's a big horse at 17hh and he can set his neck and go and you don't stand a chance holding on.

During the Summer months he is better behaved as it's just me who handles him, he is cheeky and will test people out.

I think I may get him lunged a few times and brought in for a few hours as suggested, that way his brain is being engaged so less field mischief....hopefully!