When does your horse have a holiday?

[MrsMagoo]

Just wondering when I should be giving Star a holiday...we have been doing the odd comp here and there and training through summer and I'm intending to do some affliated and dressage through winter, so when would u suggest to give her a holiday?

Ta

 

[Bossanova]

Tbh I find that they generally give themselves a mini-break through lameness etc so I dont plan a specific holiday. Occaisionally though if I'm very busy for one reason or another then they may have an easy couple of weeks but I'd still aim to ride 2-3 times a week

 

[BBs]

If horse manages to stay sound and competes all season he would normally have a month off - usually October or November.

However, hes had so much time off this year hes not having a long holiday lol

 

[ihatework]

Mine normally manage to give themselves plenty of self-enforced holidays

 

[kick_On]

The way i like to work is i like to give them at least 2-3 weeks in one block a year, and normal i plan it to fit in with me . This year my dressage boy will be get jan off, as short day, cold wet etc..
And my eventer/hunter normally get all of july
But i find you do have to be a be flexiable, as your horse can pick up injury etc...

 

[Tempi]

Bloss dosent get a holiday - as she thrives on work and competing. But she has got next weekend off competing and only a little unaffliated CT this weekend. Shes had a very relaxed wk this wk too - hacked monday, schooled tuesday, jumped wednesday, hacked yesterday and schooling tonight, and course jumping tomoro. She usually does full on schooling every evening - but shes going so well atm i felt she needed a bit more relaxation

 

[SSM]

PSD's life is one holiday, nice hacks, hunt rides, little schooling (boy is that going to change) and a show every few weeks - if she was anymore laid back she would fall over!!!

 

[RachelB]

Mine seem to be able to plan their own, both are off atm with lameness and injury! It's just a shame they do it at the same time!
If I managed to get through a whole year of riding all the time, I'd probably give Maiden a month off some time, probably when I was busy such as around exam time and when there aren't many competitions on. Cracks doesn't get holidays as she is much better in work, she's going (even more) stir crazy being off work!

 

[seaofdreams]

Mouse had done an awfull lot from last June to March/April this year so i have taken it steady over the summer with her and have just started to increase it again ready for the winter season
she didn't have a holiday as such just an easyer time

when Lottie was in work, she couldn't have time off, as if she did i payed for it!!
she loved to be in work and was a complete nightmare to ride if she wasn't or had, had time off

 

[MrsMagoo]

haha thanks for all your replies...i dont feel quite soo bad for keeping Star in work now

she has a few easy weeks here and there but I think i'll just carry on as normal for the winter and then prob be having a hol myself Jan time so she can have it of to

 

[Lill]

Mine have a holiday when I have a holiday and no one else can be bothered to ride them for me!! So uh not very often! Once or twice a year for a week at a time?

 

[MagicMelon]

I always give mine some time off. One of mine who's evented & show jumped all summer is having his 2 months or so off from next weekish. End of November-ish I'll get him back into work for some winter BSJA and dressage. Then he usually has January off since we don't have many events that month due to the weather (so usually I cant ride anyway!). My other boy who hasn't done that much all summer will probably just have January off. Winter is his favourite time so I try to use it!

 

[bellgave]

My horses tend to have time off when Im away working or on holiday. I never really totally let them down, just turn them out for a lot longer, they dont get worked, but they still come in at night and get fed (just cut out they barley and oats). Good plan to time it with your holiday in January!!

 

[bellgave]

Oh and I stop polishing them and preening them so much to, let them be dirty natural horses as nature intended, not the shiney sparkly show horses Ive turned them into. Think they appreciate the break from strapping and endless brushing and tail pulling!!

 

[LEC]

Mine only get ridden twice a week over the winter as cannot find any more time with work so he gets to chill a bit and just really gets hacked and occassional show. I was thinking about a proper holiday but he is much better for work and he is not exactly worked into the ground.

 

[lisan]

Every time I break a leg, lol!!!

As I've had her 21 months was planning on a lil break as we've had a busy competing summer, but as I'm now broken she's had/having a quiet time!

 

[MagicMelon]

PS. When mine are on holiday, they aren't "let right down" either. They all stay well rugged, fed twice a day and groomed regularily just to keep them happy! They just dont get worked.

 

[I_A_P]

im going to give mine 4-6 weeks off around christmas..one because i think she needs it not that shes worked incredibly hard competition wise this year-in fact not much at all.
also its so dark/wet that i cant ride hardly at all anyway as i have no facilities!!

 

[dieseldog]

Never, I tend to go somewhere most weekends, unless I've been away with work, and as he is still keen to go jumping etc I don't think he needs one.