Winter as a natural break

[UKa]

Anyone else using the winter months for a bit of a break with their young horses? Mine is 5 we have tried a few shows and clinics over the summer. I am not interested in much of that during the winter so looking to mainly hack and some light schooling, polework and in hand all at home just me and her. I want the pony to develop mainly strength and balance. I feel we both need to digest our impressions. Looking on social media there is constantly something offered all year. Am I alone in wanting it quieter for a few months?

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

I was thinking a similar thing with all this wet weather at the moment. I recently bought a very green 6 yr old and if I don't ride him regularly he gets very spicy!! I don't have an arena or a regular hacking buddy so I'm looking at giving him some time of too

 

[Spotherisk]

Turning away a young horse for a given period is often helpful for their future development.

 

[littleshetland]

After going out this morning to see to the horses, and squelching about through biblical amounts of rain, I'm seriously thinking of giving my 10 and 12 year old horses the winter off.....

 

[SEL]

It's vile here right now - hiding in the barn, wearing waterproofs which aren't that waterproof any longer having trudged through a bog poo picking

My 5yo is a PITA if he has nothing to occupy his mind but I've found that doesn't need to be much so long as it's more than leave in a field. The weather forces less work anyway because I haven't got an arena and limited daylight makes it hard. I think light schooling / hacking for a 5yo over winter is just fine.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

November to January is my busiest time of the year work wise, so mine doesn’t get a choice about having a break! Can’t say I’m sad to be missing out on trying to hack in the pouring rain.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I often loose the will for much riding after Christmas so mine often have time off in winter.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I won't be giving mine a break as I have an older teenager horse with a few minor health things (metabolic and v. mild arthritis) and want him to be kept in regular work to keep him lean and fully mobile.

He'll be less fit as we just can't fit in so much hacking around my work like we can in the summer so we're doing shorter pre-work hacks mixed with light schooling/polework etc in the week and getting out hacking as much as possible or to clinics or to do the odd comp at weekends. I'm sure the weather will enforce a full break on us at some point but I try to minimise it.

If I had a young horse, I would be looking to give a break.

 

[pistolpete]

I do t think I’ve ever read a post or heard of a horse that was worse after a chunk of time off. I don’t think it can possibly do any harm as long as they’re already well handled. Horses have great memories and they’re not actually designed to be ridden. It could actually be the best way to extend their working life. Just my thoughts. My Pete used to get most of the winter off as he wasn’t strong.

 

[UKa]

that some good thoughts. I will not stop doing all work as I haven’t facilities to just turn away and with her stabled at night I feel she needs to do something but I want to make some quality time with her, listening to her and strengthening her as opposed to rushing around but I am also over 50 and not hugely competitive

 

[Alibear]

I'm not against it but Amber needs to be kept fit so it's a case of early morning work for us at the moment.

 

[millitiger]

Absolutely- there is not much less fun than trying to hack a fresh 4-5yro, on wet roads, while wheely bins are flying past in the 'breeze'
I always plan my young ones to have a good, winter break- exactly which month(s) depends on when the weather turns truly vile and my motivation runs out.
I think this year that would have been September

 

[SEL]

that some good thoughts. I will not stop doing all work as I haven’t facilities to just turn away and with her stabled at night I feel she needs to do something but I want to make some quality time with her, listening to her and strengthening her as opposed to rushing around but I am also over 50 and not hugely competitive

It's a great time of year to assess how their muscles have developed to date and see if there's any groundwork you can do to improve them.

I keep getting friends telling me about various shows but tbh unless there is a class for muddiest, hairiest cob then we're not fit to be seen in polite society... And probably won't be until May at this rate

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I have a 3yo that has had a saddle and walked and trotted twice across the span of 1.5 weeks a month and a bit ago.. My intention was to have a sit at the end of Nov and see what I had as he's another that needs his brain occupying, and I have done so much in hand/ground work that I am running out of ideas of things to teach him, but with this weather recently and work being busy, I am going to leave it until Spring. Extra growing time will do him no harm, and I'll have to rack my brain for occupying things in the meantime

 

[UKa]

It's a great time of year to assess how their muscles have developed to date and see if there's any groundwork you can do to improve them.

I keep getting friends telling me about various shows but tbh unless there is a class for muddiest, hairiest cob then we're not fit to be seen in polite society... And probably won't be until May at this rate

Hahaha glad to hear mine is not the only hairy monster she’s a Connie and so far has never been clipped. I am not sure I need her clipped.

I also need to buy her a new saddle as she has matured so hiring transport to things is not a great option. In the summer we can attend local shows and clinics in hacking distance …

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

My 5yr old will have his last outing on 9/12 then he will have the rest of December and probably the whole of Jan off to unwind and I’ll pick him back up in Feb it’s a busy time in my work and the weather is generally mince so won’t do him any harm. If he starts to get bored I may take him an odd hack but that will only be time dependant.

 

[J_sarahd]

Nova had 3 months off last winter (Dec, Jan & Feb) and this year I’m going to try and keep her going until Christmas and then give her at least 6 weeks off. I think it’s always beneficial to give them time off and it’s good to give ourselves a break from the pressure of trying to ride when the weather is awful!

 

[Vodkagirly]

I probably go to more in the winter. In the summer I can go for long hacks and school in the field.
In winter, hacking is more limited due to light and the field gets slippy so I'm more motivated to find alternatives.

 

[onemoretime]

Nova had 3 months off last winter (Dec, Jan & Feb) and this year I’m going to try and keep her going until Christmas and then give her at least 6 weeks off. I think it’s always beneficial to give them time off and it’s good to give ourselves a break from the pressure of trying to ride when the weather is awful!

My mare will be having her shoes off end of 2nd week in December and will be off work until the end of January. She will still come in the stable at night and be fed just time off from work. I have always done this with my horses and I find it does them and their feet the world of good. Then she will come back up beginning of February and start her road work.