Supported rider, Ginnie Turnbull, talks about giving her young horses a well earnt holiday.
Each 4 year old has had a different “flight plan” this year.
The very weak ones were broken and then went home for the spring grass are back in training and then have recently been out for their first few arena hiring's and quiet show.
The more established and physically/mentally able ones continued in work after being broken in, did a few qualifiers and then had a holiday in early summer to have time to “percolate” all the training.
They then came back into work in early August to complete their first BE or equivalent and were confident jumping at 90/1m.
They went home for a holiday on grass 24 hours a day in early September and will aim to come back in when the weather changes/grass goes or they get bored, whichever happens first! Each horse is different but I don't anticipate that they will be back in until December and some it will be January, depending on their owners’ circumstances.
These youngsters are often fed Haylage in the field but no hard feed unless they change routine and start coming in at night. Some have rugs on but most are woolly and fairly feral - they love it but normally start to get bored and create trouble!!
Most of the youngsters have their shoes off unless there is a physical reason why they need to keep fronts on. We have one youngster who has kept his hinds on to help a weakness in his sacroiliac area.
Whenever the babies come back, they normally have improved bizarrely and pick up where they left off. Occasionally they are a little wild initially (especially when it’s windy) but actually having the rest has given their body chance to catch up and they find the work easier.
We still mix up their training with daily turnout and hacking with a bit of jumping and some schooling. They normally get busy with BS and BD but without too much pressure.
The plan for them as 5 year olds would be that they will event from late April/May, when the ground hopefully improves and maybe do an event every 3/4 weeks depending on their individual strength.
Again a holiday beckons on the spring grass - it’s always the BEST time for them to mature and grow with the sun on their back!!
Equally, I am sure they would tell you they are glad to see the back of us by then!!!!
