Resting my horse for two months?

Question

i have had my horse for eight years but for the last 8 months he's been leased out because i'm at uni, the people leasing him bought thier own horse so now i am getting him back, i want to rest him until i finish my exams (8th november) then ride him for a month and lease him out again, but if i do that he will be rested for just over two months, is that too long? my main reason for not wanting him in light work until i finish school is because he's a bit skinnier than i would like him to be, he's nearly nineteen, and he has been worked 5 times a week until now. any suggestions would be great :) thanks

Answer 1

No its not  

Answer 2

Hey There,

I don't think he is too old to be leased out seeing as horses live into their 30's but be careful with leases. I made a horrible mistake with leasing my horse once. Anyway, I never got her back because she died, she was only 6. Bad story and I won't get into the details.

Regarding your question, you should give him a rest. Thats not too long of a rest and it will help him gain weight. Maybe have someone ride him once in a while to keep his mind where its supposed to be but thats about it. It sounds like he is a good boy and he deserves it.

Make sure you find him a good home though and good luck with your boy.

Answer 3

well, i would just retire him know.

he is getting too old to be leased out.

Answer 4

i think he will be fine, just kinda keep him on a diet, or as she said dont let him/her get a hay belly, i go up north after the summer for school were i normaly live and my horses are at my grandpas howse and he only rides them ever once and a while, but wen i come back, its like i never left, he rides just as i left him

Answer 5

Two months of just being a horse will do wonders for him.

http://www.saferhorseracing.com/gpage5.h...

Answer 6

2 months should be fine but he will need a refresher course before you show him if you decide to do so.

Answer 7

hi it really depends on your horse like i have a pally geldin in my back paddock and i can leave him and not touch him for 4 years and then when i go back to him he is the same horse he just the same horse you would think he has been riddin every day and he is 18

but my other gelding i have in the paddock if you dont ride him every day he will buck you off and it ant that good

so it is really wat your horse is like if he is like my first horse i would ride him and then if you leave him h**l be ok 4 2 months but if he is like my second horse i would bother about ridin i would wait till you can ride him more offten after the 2 months

nina

Answer 8

if he knows his job well, a vacation isnt going to hurt him. but you should keep him somewhat active. i hope that when you say resting that you mean that he would be turned out in a big field with a few buddies, not kept in a stall 24/7. if it were my horse, i wouldnt have a problem with giving him a vaca for a few months, but what i would do is get out there about every other day or so and lunge him for a few minutes. that way he'll still respect you when you go to ride him again, and he'll feel good because he'll have a job to do. he doesnt sound like the type of horse that would be content just hanging out. but like i said, it shouldnt hurt to give him a break, but i would keep him working just a bit. =]

Answer 9

nineteen is ok to let him rest for a couple of months, if he knows his job!

the person that answered first is wrong, I have a mare that is 24 that my 5 and 6 yr olds can't keep up with!

if you have a pasture you can put him in, that would keep him from getting a hay belly while your resting him.

just be sure to start out gradually with him, because he'll probably be out of shape.

Answer 10

He will be fine with a 2 month rest.  Just make sure you bring him back to work gradually so you don't overdo it with an out of shape horse.

Answer 11

19 is not too old at all.. I rode a 21 year old horse for the past 3 years jumping at least 2'6 most of the time, and he can still get going at shows!

Depending on your horse, a 2 month break shouldn't hurt! I would go out or have someone go out every so often just to talk to him or lung him, maybe even have you or a friend ride him every so often.

Answer 12

I think that he will be fine. Just make sure that he doesnt get a hay belly while hes off work!

And for anybody who says he is too old to be leased out, I have a 27 year old mare that is still going strong and jumping 3 foot EASILY.

But if the age bothers you, than half-lease him. keep him on property but the leasers can come whenever to ride him.