- We Help Equine Businesses
Ali Farouq Noori
Ali Farouq Noori - Iraq
Taking the Off Season Off or Not?
This time between November and March is under heated debate concerning our Reining horses. There are several trains of thought, as I work to gather information on the subject. I will attempt to list several options so each person can individually decide what`s best for them and their horses. It`s been a long show season, we`ve worked hard and our horses have worked even harder. The hours of hauling, schooling session, clinics and workshops, competitions, strange surroundings and stress have all taken their toll. There is no doubt...we all need a well deserved break.
What kind of a break is the real question.
Option1
Pull your horses shoes off, put away the show sheets and blankets, open the gate and set him free.
Pro - There is very good feeling that comes to us when we can give back to the horse like this, by allowing them to "just be a horse". There`s no doubt that they will really appreciate this change of pace too. This drastic change will "clear their minds" so that they can come back to work in the spring, refreshed and ready for another show season. Pulling the horse`s shoes will be good for the hoof circulation.
Con - The cons to this scenario could include the following: A horse that is used to being stall kept, will take a while to adjust to open country surroundings, injuries can happen. Being left idle, the horse will loose fitness levels, so on return to the training ring, injuries can happen due to lack of fitness. Being loose, will be good for the mental health of the horse, but won`t deal with the mental health of the horse in an arena setting. Pulling the horse`s shoes can back-track hoof progress that your farrier was trying to correct (such as flares and straightness).
Option 2
Keep riding and exercising. Keeping fit will lessen the chance of injury.
Pro - We`ve all heard that "a change is as good as a break" and this can be very true in the horse world. Change the sliders to regular shoes if you like, and then hit the trails. Regardless of rain or snow we can still ride outdoors in the off season. The up and down hill climbing will help to develop different muscle groups. Ride indoors but try some different maneuvers that aren`t related to Reining ... bareback? hackamore? extended trot? jumping? trail horse obstacles?
Con - We would still be riding the horse ... maybe his back needs a break. Option 2 B - how about some ground work, lunging, lunging over jumps, round pen work to refresh his back while still keeping him fit.
Option 3
Take advantage of the down time to work on Reining for the next show season.
Pro - There is a lot of time to improve you and your horse during the winter months. There is less rush and stress to train during the non-show season. This is a slower time for the professional trainers, book some time with your favorite, while they have more time to spend with you. Take this time to evaluate last year performances and work towards correcting mistakes. Amazing progress can be made with all this training time.
Con - Both the horse and the rider won`t get the physical or mental break that they may need, to come back to the sport refreshed.
I hope that these options will give you some ideas on how to spend your off season in the most productive way for you and your horse. Finding a balance between a break and total lay-off will probably be the most beneficial. While we are on the subject, how about writing down your goals for the off season, the show season, and the end of the year. What will it take to accomplish these goals? Where & when will you start? Who`s going to help you achieve the goals? A plan is the only sure way to steady progress. Mapping out your future won`t guarantee success, but it will go a long way to making the road smoother. Possibly start a journal of your past endeavors, where you are now and where you want to head to.
Good luck in your "customized" off-season plan .... I`m looking forward to seeing you all in the show pen !
Taking the Off Season Off or Not?
This time between November and March is under heated debate concerning our Reining horses. There are several trains of thought, as I work to gather information on the subject. I will attempt to list several options so each person can individually decide what`s best for them and their horses. It`s been a long show season, we`ve worked hard and our horses have worked even harder. The hours of hauling, schooling session, clinics and workshops, competitions, strange surroundings and stress have all taken their toll. There is no doubt...we all need a well deserved break.
What kind of a break is the real question.
Option1
Pull your horses shoes off, put away the show sheets and blankets, open the gate and set him free.
Pro - There is very good feeling that comes to us when we can give back to the horse like this, by allowing them to "just be a horse". There`s no doubt that they will really appreciate this change of pace too. This drastic change will "clear their minds" so that they can come back to work in the spring, refreshed and ready for another show season. Pulling the horse`s shoes will be good for the hoof circulation.
Con - The cons to this scenario could include the following: A horse that is used to being stall kept, will take a while to adjust to open country surroundings, injuries can happen. Being left idle, the horse will loose fitness levels, so on return to the training ring, injuries can happen due to lack of fitness. Being loose, will be good for the mental health of the horse, but won`t deal with the mental health of the horse in an arena setting. Pulling the horse`s shoes can back-track hoof progress that your farrier was trying to correct (such as flares and straightness).
Option 2
Keep riding and exercising. Keeping fit will lessen the chance of injury.
Pro - We`ve all heard that "a change is as good as a break" and this can be very true in the horse world. Change the sliders to regular shoes if you like, and then hit the trails. Regardless of rain or snow we can still ride outdoors in the off season. The up and down hill climbing will help to develop different muscle groups. Ride indoors but try some different maneuvers that aren`t related to Reining ... bareback? hackamore? extended trot? jumping? trail horse obstacles?
Con - We would still be riding the horse ... maybe his back needs a break. Option 2 B - how about some ground work, lunging, lunging over jumps, round pen work to refresh his back while still keeping him fit.
Option 3
Take advantage of the down time to work on Reining for the next show season.
Pro - There is a lot of time to improve you and your horse during the winter months. There is less rush and stress to train during the non-show season. This is a slower time for the professional trainers, book some time with your favorite, while they have more time to spend with you. Take this time to evaluate last year performances and work towards correcting mistakes. Amazing progress can be made with all this training time.
Con - Both the horse and the rider won`t get the physical or mental break that they may need, to come back to the sport refreshed.
I hope that these options will give you some ideas on how to spend your off season in the most productive way for you and your horse. Finding a balance between a break and total lay-off will probably be the most beneficial. While we are on the subject, how about writing down your goals for the off season, the show season, and the end of the year. What will it take to accomplish these goals? Where & when will you start? Who`s going to help you achieve the goals? A plan is the only sure way to steady progress. Mapping out your future won`t guarantee success, but it will go a long way to making the road smoother. Possibly start a journal of your past endeavors, where you are now and where you want to head to.
Good luck in your "customized" off-season plan .... I`m looking forward to seeing you all in the show pen !
