By Rob Van Jacobs
Now that the holidays are behind us and the winter show season has begun, it may become easy to fixate on year-end goals. Establishing goals is very important and something I discuss with my students. Of the many things the equestrian sport is good for, goal setting is one of them. The valuable life lessons that are learned as we work toward goals makes us better versions of ourselves.
Another important component we must acknowledge with our animals is reserving times throughout the year for them to rest. I plan for periods of rest throughout the year depending on many factors. It’s my belief that horses cannot work six days a week all year long. Rest periods give your horse an opportunity to decompress physically, mentally and emotionally.
My horses and I are fortunate to be based at a farm in Seattle that has ample turnout. My horses have the luxury to go outside every day for a minimum of six hours. Our horses can stay outside longer if needed. Generally, turnout on the West Coast is much more limited than it is on the East Coast. Land may be more expensive and also harder to find. When I had a business on the East Coast, I leased a 10-stall barn on 15 acres. I’ve worked in barns on the West Coast that are under five acres and have 40 to 50 stalls. That gives you an idea of the land-to-horse ratio. In my program, if the weather is predicted to be miserable, the horses will not stay outside as long. Another luxury we have grown accustomed to is our stalls having a very small paddock attached to them, so our horses have more space to move around at night even with them being inside.
Whether your horse is receiving ample daily turnout or not, it’s still my belief that your training program should include periods of rest throughout the year. I own a small, boutique-style business and I judge USEF-recognized horse shows multiple times throughout the year. I use those times I’m away judging as periods to rest my horses. Those weeks, the horses will likely get a few light flat rides while I’m away and that’s it. No lessons, no jumping, simply a chance to decompress and be a horse. Some of my horses are green and some are quite experienced. Different horses enjoy and require rest in different ways. Your trainer’s experience will help you create a plan that works well for your horse.
Horses are therapeutic and being around them does so much for our mental health. If we’re honest, we can say we all love to spend time with the horse—that’s why we participate in this sport. Other forms of resting your horse while still spending time with them may be taking them on trail rides, either around the farm or through the woods, assuming your horse is accustomed to this and it is done while practicing safety protocols.
Taking your horse on grazing hand-walks is another effective way to give you an opportunity to spend time with your horse while they have a planned rest period. My students sometimes pull their saddles off and walk their horses around the arena without them.
Bringing your horse back from a period of rest may vary depending on the horse. Horses are individuals; some horses go back to work loose, happy and eager to move forward off the leg. Others may “green up on you” a little the first few rides. That’s all a part of the sport, and being able to adapt to each horse individually is important.
Some horses you can simply just get on and ride after a period of rest. Others may need a few professional rides before their owner gets on.
Some younger horses may benefit from a light lunge to express themselves and play lightly. I’m always cautious with lunging horses as there is potential risk for injury to the horse and/or the handler. I’ve learned that every person navigates the equestrian industry willing to take on different levels of risk. I’m typically a risk-adverse person and use my experiences to help reduce risk in a sport that has clear, inherent risk. I’m this way for myself and my students.
Although I will always support the horse having some down time throughout the year, I do understand statistically our sport is more dangerous than skydiving, so I take safety seriously. I hope you consider planned rest periods to prevent your horse from a mental or physical breakdown.
Caption:
A good time to rest your horse may be after a job well done!
Photo by Javi Varela
