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  Discussion on Horsey "Days Off"
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Member:
9193

Posted on Sunday, Apr 25, 2004 - 10:27 pm:

Hello All,

How much riding, training, showing ect, can horses take before needing a "day off"? This question comes to my mind in regards to a statement that our trainer made today after a successful day at our first schooling dressage show. Tomorrow is a regular lesson day, but there will be no lesson on horseback to give the horses a day off because of the effort both mentally and physically they put into the morning.

I have no quarrel with our trainers desire to give the horses a day off. I personally don't think it was that taxing for the horses to be groomed, saddled, warmed up and shown for a couple of three minute classes. The schooling show was at our own barn, so no trailering was necessary. The statement merely brought this question to my mind and I am curious how other horse owners gauge their horses need for a day off.

Is the stimulation of a show that mentally stressful for a horse that a day off is helpful? Is being ridden/trained on a regular schedule that physically taxing as to need a break once or twice a week? I know that some horses are definitly stressed when out of their own known envirnment, but I am curious what guidelines others of you use for knowing when to give your horses a break from everyday riding, training, showing ect..and why.

My daughter and I ride our horse almost everyday of the week for about two hours a day. When my daughter rides he gets a 20-30 minute warm up followed by about 45 minutes of whatever practice she needs to do and then a careful cooldown which is usually a leisurely walk on the perimenter bridlepath. Twice a week he is taken out by our trainer for lunging and "tuneup training". I try to go out on a trail ride once a week.. I like to mix up the riding so that Justin doesn't get stale doing the same old thing, but he usually only gets one day a week "off".

If a horse is being ridden only two hours out of 24 and is just standing around eating, resting and enjoying turnout the rest of the time is needing "days off" during the week really all that beneficial?

As always, I will look forward to your responses.

Debra
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2004 - 7:59 am:

Personally I give them 2 days off a week when they are in (stabled) and working usually and almost always a day off after a competition unless it's something involving cross country or hunting where there may be leg scratches etc. where a light hack down to the sea to stand in the waves helps.

When they are out in the field and being ridden I reckon they get more natural exercise anyway so I might give them 2 or 3 days off. You must have a great life, Debra, if you have time to ride 7 days a week!

Possibly your trainer was stressed out after dealing with all the human competitors nerves and needed a day off his/herself too?

All the best

Imogen
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2004 - 9:28 am:

It totally depends on the horse, imo. HOw hold is he, condition he's in, etc. It's my opinion that it's good for a horse to be ridden almost every day, unless the horse has age or health related problems. However, I alternate types of riding and always do some relaxed trail riding to break things up. We always give our horses a day off after a show, as does everyone else I know. However, if there's no turnout for the horse, they do get a light lounging the day after a show. No real work though. But, I've never shown at my own barn. If we have traveled a long distance or it's been a long hard show, like regionals or nationals, we give the horse an entire week off with either just turnout or very light work.
Member:
9193

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004 - 12:31 pm:

Imogen, I chuckled out loud when I read your post..I do have a wonderful life which includes a VERY horse crazy 13yr old daughter who is totally in love with her first horse! We have had Justin exactly one year at a boarding facility that is a half hour drive from our home. She loves to read her horse magazines, have her riding lessons and spend hours with her friends and horse primping, mucking and practicing her riding. She is hooked on dressage and as long as she is hanging David/Karen O'Conner pictures on her wall and preferring to hang with her barn buddies instead of the mall.. I will drive her to the barn every day! I also have an 11 year old son who is as passionate about his Little League as his sister is about horses, so I spend ALOT of time at barns and baseball bleachers. My car and my tackroom are much more organized than my house! (grin)

Where do you live Imogen? The mental image of taking a ride to the sea sounds so relaxing and enjoyable! I certainly wouldn't mind taking a day or two off to soak my legs at the beach!

We are having quite the heat wave in the SF Bay area, so we are taking it easy on the horses. Also your observation concerning the trainers need off was valid.. Instead of a riding lesson, she used the time to go over the dressage evaluations of the show with Rachael and her two friends, giving a constructive critique and encouraging them to keep working with their horses. We are lucky to have someone like our trainer who enjoys teenagers and horses!

Good Luck to both of you in your showing careers..It sounds like both of you are quite involved with your horses.. I hope we can "chat" again.

Smiles,
Debra



Member:
Horsepix

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004 - 5:40 pm:

During college, our university riding club horses were used 6 days per week in a lesson program. They couldn't be ridden no more than 3x/day at 2 hours at a time. So that means 1 one hour ride in the morning and two hours of lessons in the evening -- 6 days per week. We usually gave them the day off after a show because shows, although held on our property, were rather taxing (multiple flat classes with various riders with a variety of riding abilities).

Our best lesson horses were the geriatrics! Three of the 7 lesson horses were over 20 (two over 24) who just LOVED their job. And with regular work, they stayed in great shape. Our fear was that they would injur themselves in the pasture and just rot in their stalls during recovery.

I try to get out to the barn everyday, although I don't always ride every day. Most days, I ride. Sometimes I just lunge. Occaisionally we just hand graze or go for a leadline walk around the property -- good bonding time.
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