Q: Does my horse need a break over Christmas?

A: It depends, but probably yes, in some form.

Even if your horse hasn’t competed heavily this year, a short period of rest or a change in routine over the festive season can be beneficial both physically and mentally.

Rest and recovery

Horses, like people, benefit from periods of recovery

Horses don’t necessarily need a total holiday where they do nothing for weeks, but they do need time when training intensity drops and their minds can decompress. Continuous daily schooling, even at low levels, can create repetitive strain on joints, muscles and ligaments, and mental fatigue can build quietly, especially in horses who are naturally conscientious or sensitive.

A week or two of lighter work – hacking, turnout, groundwork fun, or simply a few days off – gives the body time to repair and the mind time to reset.

How much rest is enough?

If your horse has had a steady but not demanding year, consider one to two weeks of reduced workload, rather than complete inactivity. For horses recovering from a busy show season, we recommend giving them a proper break of two to four weeks off ridden work, as long as they still get plenty of daily turnout.

The key is not stopping everything, but changing the rhythm.

The exceptions

Some horses find an abrupt change in routine, even just ‘time off’ to be stressful. For these horses, keeping gentle daily handling or short in-hand sessions can maintain structure without overloading the body. A ‘holiday’ in these cases can simply mean fewer demands and more variety, not a total shutdown.

Similarly, some older horses can stiffen up without regular exercise. For these horses, reducing workload and work intensity, or just changing up the routine, rather than stopping all work entirely is probably the best option.

Finally, if your horse is in a yard with limited turnout (i.e. they are not able to be out and moving for at least four to six hours per day), you will still need to go and do some hand walking and grazing during the Christmas period, to keep their body moving. Horses should not stand for hours in a stable, so over Christmas these horses will need to be kept moving every day, perhaps just in a different way to normal.

The bigger picture

Rest is part of training, not the absence of it. Horses adapt, rebuild and grow stronger during recovery periods, not in the middle of constant work.

Even if your horse hasn’t had a packed show calendar, time off can improve soundness, enthusiasm, and your partnership heading into the new year.

All in all, it’s probably a good time to take a bit of a step back, whether that means hacking, extra turnout, or simply not worrying about arena goals, your horse will thank you for the pause.