Turning Away

[Rarah]

Could someone please explain to me why it is necessary to "turn away" a newly broken horse?

Also what is the minimum period that you need to turn away for?

Thanks
Sarah:)

[cvb]

this is normally done to give a horse time to mature physically and mentally.

e.g. you do basic "backing" work over a summer, then give them a break and start again the next spring.

Depends a lot on how mature the horse is when you start :o

If you start a horse quite young and/or its a late maturing breed, then this will have more sense to it.

Bear in mind that heavy work before the growth plates have fused can cause long term damage.

[larri]

They usually benefit from a break just to be a horse again after the initial training. If you back a youngster the summer they are three, they then need a good few months (I did October through to the following March) to play, grow up a little mentally and physically before coming into "proper" work when they are four.

Safi had been ground worked since I had her at 18 months and her initial ridden training consisted of backing, establishing basic walk, trot, turns, stops and circles. A little pole work for fun, lots of hacking out, canters in the open (not in the school) we did about three months in total and then she went out. We still worked on basic manners and stuff, but no ridden work.

[Jessey]

I have been told / know about turning away and the above theory for it but is this is the case why don't we just leave the backing until the following spring (4 year old) when you would bring them back to work anyway, or am I totally missing the point here?

J

[eventerbabe]

a young horse needs a break to think about what he has been taught. you start their ridden work, teach them the basics then give them time off to think about what they have done. too much work with a young horse will only stress them out and lead to problems.

[Mehitabel]

the point is that often the horse can cope physically, but after a period of intense learning, they benefit from a period of rest and play to mentally assimilate all they've done. it's a huge change going from being a field ornament to a working horse, and it's a lot to take in.

think of how relieved a person is to have the summer holidays after having worked really hard at exams.

once the inital learning curve is over, it's not such a big thing - like having a job.

[cvb]

its "soak" time :D

They go away, stand under a tree, and think it all over....

[berties-girl]

I agree with the others, gives them a chance to Mature and mellow out after some intense breaking.

I'm actually really excited because my youngster has been turned away for the last 9 months and he is coming back into work this weekend, so i will see if turning him away has chilled him out.

[shandy84]

You would not believe the change it can make. I backed my three year old and turned her away over the winter and she had about 4 months off she came back so much more mellow.

I have basically had her turned away again now for about 2 months possibly a little over and this time she has physically matured and is looking great for the rest - though can't wait to get those bum muscles back on her

I will continue to give my horses a 3 months holiday throughout their lives so that their shoes can be pulled and repair any damage etc and find their own natural balance an i also think it is healhty for a horse to be a horse and just that every once in a while - better for the mind

[Bobbi77]

Our little mare was lightly backed during the summer and is now happily turned away having a whale of a time. Unfortunately, we will probably be selling in the spring, but I am happy that she will have had a nice break during the winter months and will be ready to carry on with her learning quite happily in her new home :)