Young horse holidays

[Conniequestions]

I have a four yo Connemara (late goal - end of July). He has been backed and turned away last year when in Ireland. They bought him back into work last Nov but when I bought him in Jan this year, he was immediately turned away until May. Since then, he has done small amounts of work with so planned outings for experiene in Nov. I would like him to have a bit of a holiday through December to take a break from all the learning. The trouble is, my yard does not have winter turnout for the worst of the winter. Is there any way extremely light work would yield similar results to being turned away? Looking for ideas!

 

[Conniequestions]

Apologies for the typos!!!

 

[Cortez]

Is there any reason you can’t just keep him ticking over, I.e. just exercise rather than school? I haven’t ever turned horses away after breaking, we just keep them going in very light work for the first year or so and gradually up the work as they mature.

 

[Conniequestions]

That is good to hear. I guess I have had quite a few backward youngsters and that time out has often been the resolution to a multiple of issues. This one is being a superstar but in my old age, (and paying for them myself not my parents ?) I am treating him with kid gloves. I feel he would be happy in light work. This may be the way forward (and see me through the dark nights too!)

 

[Bob notacob]

That is good to hear. I guess I have had quite a few backward youngsters and that time out has often been the resolution to a multiple of issues. This one is being a superstar but in my old age, (and paying for them myself not my parents ?) I am treating him with kid gloves. I feel he would be happy in light work. This may be the way forward (and see me through the dark nights too!)

they do it to us . But the hsve gotto tske a few knocks themselve.

 

[TheMule]

You've either got to keep him in full work to keep him physically and mentally sound when your yard doesn’t have turn out (which, IMO, is the worst possible thing for an active young horse), or you find somewhere we he can go out and give him an easier time/ a full break.
My homebred 4yr old is on a winter break. He was also a late foal and he has some growing to do. He had also achieved everything he needed to as a 4yr old and mine live out 24/7 so it was an easy decision for me to make. I think he will come back in stronger and ready to crack on at 5

 

[stangs]

The benefits of a holiday, I think, are impossible to achieve without turnout (ideally in company). Being 24/7 stabled of no enjoyment for a horse, and neither good for them physically or mentally. But, if you really can't find any turnout, and want to be keep treating him with kid gloves, I'd be doing lots of long in hand hacks over as varied terrain as you can find, and then the occasional very light schooling session.

 

[Patterdale]

The mental or physical benefits of a holiday wouldn’t be achieved without 24/7 turnout in my opinion.
Is there anywhere you could find to take him for a month?

 

[Conniequestions]

Thanks all and this is exactly my thing. He was turned away elsewhere at the beginning of the year and so I can give them a ring, it is only down the road. I think my question is not the best written, it is more that I don’t want to rush him and a break has been beneficial to my youngsters before. If he was to have the break, it would be turned away properly. I was more looking to see if people without turnout found ways to help youngsters. We only don’t have it from Nov to Jan but that is exactly when it would be good for us! Oh to have my own yard ?

 

[Michen]

My five year old and my 9 year old are moving yards for a month to have a turned away hol this winter whilst I travel. Could it be an option to send him somewhere?

 

[ihatework]

I am very pro giving them breaks. It’s how I’ve always done it and it’s very rare they go backwards for it. Only one I’ve had I had to change my approach.

But for me it’s a proper holiday, not just going in the paddock at the yard and not working. They get acreage. They get friends. They get decent ground. No coming & going.

 

[Eugene79]

mycardstatement

I have a four yo Connemara (late goal - end of July). He has been backed and turned away last year when in Ireland. They bought him back into work last Nov but when I bought him in Jan this year, he was immediately turned away until May. Since then, he has done small amounts of work with so planned outings for experiene in Nov. I would like him to have a bit of a holiday through December to take a break from all the learning. The trouble is, my yard does not have winter turnout for the worst of the winter. Is there any way extremely light work would yield similar results to being turned away? Looking for ideas!

Is there any explanation you can't simply keep him ticking over, I.e. simply practice instead of school? I haven't at any point dismissed ponies in the wake of breaking, we simply keep them going in exceptionally light work for the primary year or something like that and slowly up the work as they mature.