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Post by brookviewequine on May 18, 2012 8:16:42 GMT
Thoughts on time off for horse. Especially if you're having problems.
We are assuming the horse is fit healthy and all tack fitted correctly.
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Post by Kerbeck on May 18, 2012 9:28:50 GMT
Personally if I were having problems then I wouldn't be happy in giving my horses time off until they were resolved, I would try and ensure that I worked through the problem and then gave them some time out if needed. I gave my fell 5 weeks off over christmas, he had been in regular work for the previous 18 months and I had just moved yards so decided it was a good oportunity for us to both have some time off and give him time to settle, he is now back in work 6 days a week and going his best ever, and I will probably do the same this winter!
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Post by watchbank on May 18, 2012 9:32:20 GMT
blah blah we all have our own opinions and should be entilited to them without somebody else wacking you down.
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Post by desktop on May 18, 2012 10:38:15 GMT
blah blah we all have our own opinions and should be entilited to them without somebody else wacking you down. Who is wacking who down  I gave my mare time off over winter, 3 months in total because I felt she was bored and just needed a break, it has done her the world of good. I think each horse is different though and should be treated so  |
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Post by GinaGeo on May 18, 2012 10:57:00 GMT
blah blah we all have our own opinions and should be entilited to them without somebody else wacking you down. Who is wacking who down I gave my mare time off over winter, 3 months in total because I felt she was bored and just needed a break, it has done her the world of good. I think each horse is different though and should be treated so ^This^ My horse always come back better after a break. I've turned him away several times in the time I've owned him. He's always come back more enthusiastic for his work. I think turning away is very useful in the right circumstances.  |
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Post by rhosyn on May 18, 2012 10:59:32 GMT
Ditto GinGeo, ours do too, particularly if they're younger horses or ponies.
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Post by watchbank on May 18, 2012 11:04:40 GMT
Well thats why i said the first time but i got wammed down by OP of this post!!
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Post by nici on May 18, 2012 11:10:14 GMT
We have enforced time off over winter as it's just too much of a struggle to keep the ponies in work with only a very muddy field, limited light and endless rain.
The ponies all respond differently when brought back into work, and it changes every year. This year Sammy Shetland (now 7) seems to have grown up and lost all his mischievous tricks, whereas in previous years it's taken him a few weeks to settle back into work after his break. Bella takes a while to get back into things and doesn't like to canter, although she'd power trot all day, so she's hard work for the little ones. Teddy (5) had less time off as he was on loan for much of winter. He was fine at first but has been going through a Kevin phase for the past month or so, now settling back into working nicely for his little jockeys again. And Sally (also 5 and lightly backed & ridden away last summer) completely forgot everything she'd ever learned about working off LR and had to be taken back to basic groundwork again, but is coming along nicely now.
When giving ponies time out, I do like to end on a positive experience - if there was something I was having problems with, but I knew I would have to give the pony a break, I would just make sure we had a couple of good fun sessions not involving whatever was giving him problems, and then build up to it in little steps when I was able to bring him back into work.
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Post by brookviewequine on May 18, 2012 11:26:06 GMT
I didn't wham anyone down. I would never give a horse time off when he s been misbehaving. Time off over winter after a hard slog then yes. My opinion, so think we ll agree to differ. You've missed my point yet again. So just to confirm. Every time you get to a sticky learning patch you give them a few weeks/months off ?
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Post by desktop on May 18, 2012 11:34:57 GMT
I didn't wham anyone down. I would never give a horse time off when he s been misbehaving. Time off over winter after a hard slog then yes. My opinion, so think we ll agree to differ. You've missed my point yet again. So just to confirm. Every time you get to a sticky learning patch you give them a few weeks/months off ? Ok so now I understand where Watchbank is coming from, what a lovely attitude you have  Perhaps if you explained yourself properly people would not 'miss the point'!!! |
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Post by brookviewequine on May 18, 2012 11:41:41 GMT
Thoughts on time off for horse. Especially if you're having problems. We are assuming the horse is fit healthy and all tack fitted correctly. Think the question is clear enough |
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Post by ikklecob on May 18, 2012 12:07:20 GMT
Horse misbehave for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes they are simlpy bored. Therefore time out can help. Sometimes the reason for their misbehaving is down to their rider/handler. They pick up on stress or fear. At these times some time out for both parties may help. I don't think you can generalise on when is the time for time out as sometimes it has to be when we as humans who have busy lives need it to be.
However I also work on the theory that to keep my horses costs me a lot of money and therefore when I want to do something I expect them to if they feel like it or not.
ETA My youngster started to misbehave and we turned her away. She came back a much more mature little horse and all the better for it. I think sometimes they need a mental break.
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Post by desktop on May 18, 2012 12:15:57 GMT
Thoughts on time off for horse. Especially if you're having problems. We are assuming the horse is fit healthy and all tack fitted correctly. Think the question is clear enough Not really as surely it would depend on the typs of problems you are having. But hey I am sure you will get plenty of replies, I for one wont bother |
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Post by horsesmakemehappy on May 18, 2012 12:17:34 GMT
ikklecob how old was your youngster? just i have a yearling who i am getting gelded next week and once he healed my yard owner said i should turn him out for a year with the race yard youngsters to mature, but as he only just been handled for 2 months im worried that the two months of work will all come undone if he is just turned out what are peoples thoughts on this?
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Post by ikklecob on May 18, 2012 12:20:47 GMT
She was older than yours had been backed for a few months. I would still turn your youngster away for a while babies need to be babies and learn to be horses they will learn again.
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Post by horsesmakemehappy on May 18, 2012 12:25:05 GMT
just the fact that he is uncatchable as hadnt been handled in anyway til 2 months ago worries me turning him out how would get round this as field is massive and full of other youngsters which after having my leg broken by one when i went to try catch him last time makes me nervous too or if go to field every day and just feed/treat him over fence will this keep him from losing everything have done with him since? sorry for all questions just first time have had a yearling that was never handled before
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Post by GinaGeo on May 18, 2012 12:25:34 GMT
Horses do misbehave for various reasons. I thought Watchbank was being abrupt in her intital, but I now totally understand why!
The first time I turned my horse away was to restart him. We were having "problems" stemming from being rushed by his previous owners who started him. He had two months off, where he did nothing and then we started him from scratch again, as if backing for the first time. It did him the world of good, he matured alot.
Since then he's been turned away about three times for various periods of time over the five years I've owned him. Twice were due problems we were having, both stemmed from deeper routed issues, we adresseed the problem and then he had time off to recover. One was a month long spell the other was about 8 months. He had two months off this winter for my own convenience. I didn't have the time to keep him fit and in full work, and didn't want to feel obligated in the bad weather.
If things are going drastically wrong with a horse and a reason cannot be found for it, I'd rather turn away for a period of time and start again totally, than to continue trying to work on an issue that's just not resolving, it only causes anxiety for both horse and rider. Some horse's do need the time to maybe forget and grow up and of course time itself can be a great healer.
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Post by horseylady on May 18, 2012 13:07:32 GMT
If you refer to my post in the riding training forum Re.. Nipping it in the bud.... as this is where this post is really referring to.. all very confusing if you haven't read the other post :/
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Post by GinaGeo on May 18, 2012 13:08:37 GMT
Thank You horseylady, I'll go and have a look!
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Post by horseylady on May 18, 2012 13:24:03 GMT
However I also work on the theory that to keep my horses costs me a lot of money and therefore when I want to do something I expect them to if they feel like it or not. . Hmmm I have to say.. horses are not machines  |
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Post by watchbank on May 18, 2012 13:48:20 GMT
My point was that some ponies turn SOUR when worked all the time and shown often aswell, they get bored easy and thats when you end up with issues so if they start to turn sour here i will turn them out for a few months before the shows and bring them back into work slowly and gradually and enjoy the show season. My section d is turned out everyday, in on a night and ridden 3 or 4 times a week and that way shes happy. If i was to work her everyday, 7 days a week i would not be suprised if she turned bitter about being ridden and issues arose!!
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on May 18, 2012 19:46:00 GMT
horsesmakemehappy - if you feed/treat him over the fence in a field full of other youngsters he will end up getting mobbed by the others who will be after the feed/treats......
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Post by nagrags on May 19, 2012 9:31:26 GMT
Can I ask people to be honest in their answers? But, are people turning their ponies away/time out generally in the winter for rest after the season or simply down to costs/time etc?
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Post by watchbank on May 19, 2012 9:41:24 GMT
Can I ask people to be honest in their answers? But, are people turning their ponies away/time out generally in the winter for rest after the season or simply down to costs/time etc? I get most of mine in for the winter and they turn out in the summer when the weather is nice ;D |
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Post by sageandonion on May 19, 2012 11:39:59 GMT
I am way not getting this thread? Now I am asking this very nicely and am I misunderstanding. You have asked for opinions but you have formed your own opinion which appears to be very fixed and not appreciating any person differing with you. So, do you want opinions/advice or are you looking for a argumentative thread?
It is Saturday and pretty humid, I am glad to be alive, so I am with desktop on this.
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Post by fanfarefan on May 19, 2012 12:03:04 GMT
are we talking time off work, or turning them out 24/ 7 ? i also think depending on the problem , that before time out/off ,it would be better to try and resolve it , also it depends on age , youngsters need work handling and consistency ,but maybe a break every now and then to think about things and chill out , older horses dont always benefit from time off/out , its a very broad spectrum question , which will depending greatly on the indivdual horse/owner/ facilities/ weather /work? |
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Post by nagrags on May 19, 2012 13:31:15 GMT
I am way not getting this thread? Now I am asking this very nicely and am I misunderstanding. You have asked for opinions but you have formed your own opinion which appears to be very fixed and not appreciating any person differing with you. So, do you want opinions/advice or are you looking for a argumentative thread? It is Saturday and pretty humid, I am glad to be alive, so I am with desktop on this. Your now confusing me - who are you referring to  |
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Post by nici on May 19, 2012 19:58:14 GMT
Can I ask people to be honest in their answers? But, are people turning their ponies away/time out generally in the winter for rest after the season or simply down to costs/time etc? Ours live out 24/7 all year anyway. We have stables but prefer the ponies to be out unless the weather is particularly wet for an extended period. We find it's impractical to keep ponies in proper work during the winter, as we have limited lighting and only a field to ride in, which gets very wet and slippery. With youngsters I make a conscious decision - ok, that's it, good point to finish, you can have the winter off now - but with the older ponies, we keep going as long as weather conditions allow, even if it's only pottering around at weekends - riding during the week after work isn't possible from mid October or so. But eventually it becomes more of a chore than a pleasure, and riding fizzles out until Spring. We don't really have a busy season - haven't made it to a single show this year and ponies are only ridden 2-5 times a week - so we would probably carry on with a couple of ponies if we had an indoor, but even with an outdoor arena I don't think we'd do very much more. Winter is a time to snuggle indoors, and for Cerys to focus on some of her other hobbies and interests ;D |
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Post by sageandonion on May 19, 2012 20:03:44 GMT
I am way not getting this thread? Now I am asking this very nicely and am I misunderstanding. You have asked for opinions but you have formed your own opinion which appears to be very fixed and not appreciating any person differing with you. So, do you want opinions/advice or are you looking for a argumentative thread? It is Saturday and pretty humid, I am glad to be alive, so I am with desktop on this. Your now confusing me - who are you referring to Idon't think I know It depends on the horse, the age, the problem, the environment, the rider and the rider's situation. There can be no cast iron rule. |
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Post by lulah on May 20, 2012 13:37:19 GMT
i give my horse time off over christmas, usually around 4 -6 weeks. hes 9 yrs old and pretty well schooled. i mainly do it so i have more time to myself over christmas and visit family etc. plus he enjoys it and i take his shoes off too (save a bit of money!)
i personally dont think horses should be given time off when they have "issues" but then agree with most young horses they need some time to grow up mentally. it depends on the situation really.
my horse is mentally mature and if we was have problems in november i definatly wouldnt give him the time offf in december!
like sageandonion said it depends !
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