Is it time for a break?

Riding advice

12 December 2011 12:23

Is a winter holiday the key to a happy healthy horse who's raring to go come spring or the recipe for training disaster?

We speak to intermediate event rider and BE-registered trainer Annette Philpot who says "Remember, every horse is an individual"

The type and intensity of work he’s doing will dictate plans to a degree, but you must take his temperament into account. While some horses relish the chance to hang out in a muddy field, others prefer their creature comforts and will stand forlornly at the gate.

“It’s a matter of weighing up what suits,” says Annette. “It can be good for a horse to get out of the classroom after a hard season, perhaps in the field with a companion, but some are miserable. 

“It also depends on how you keep your horse. Some riders plan a complete winter break while others keep a happy medium by riding three times a week.”

What is never an option, she says, is stabling without work or turnout.

“A horse is a grazing animal and 24-hour stabling is not good for his circulation or breathing,” she says. “If your yard closes its fields in winter, you’ll have to keep your horse in some degree of work. You can scale it down, however – if there are no affiliated dressage competitions coming up, don’t school so rigorously.”

Annette stresses the importance of allowing time for a roughing-off period if your horse is due to be turned out with no exercise.

“A fit horse who doesn’t get his normal work can be difficult to handle, so decrease exercise levels slowly and gradually replace a high-energy diet with a fibre-based alternative,” she explains. “Instead of clipping, use lightweight rugs so he grows a natural coat and only groom where the tack goes to avoid removing natural grease.”

As to when to schedule a break, Annette advises working backwards from the date of your biggest spring competition. “If you intend to compete in April, your horse will need to be back in slow walking work by mid-January,” she says. “He doesn’t need to be at his peak for the very first show, because competitions will increase his fitness.”