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 Expert
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Location: Texas | If you have a horse that is in excellent condition, how long of a break can you give them (being turned out on pasture) with no riding before they will start to lose condition? |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
  
Location: Texas | How large of a pasture?
There was an article not too long ago that showed horses turned out on a lot of land ( I think 100 acres) kept themselves in the same shape as stalled horses with controlled exercise. Key word- a lot of land.
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Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | Pasture is approximately 10 acres. Could be turned out on more, but I would rather keep him closer to the barn and have him come in for twice per day feedings and to be checked over. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | It depends on the horse and the weather for me. My pasture is about 10 acres as well. My lazy gelding will lose some condition with a week off, especially in the summer. My 4 year old plays and moves around a lot more, so she can go a month and still be good. |
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 Draw the Line
Posts: 1371
Location: Too Far North | Two weeks and they will start to lose condition. They will retain a LOT of condition if they have a decent pasture. |
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Also depends on the level of fitness of the horse before being turned out. For example, a horse that has been on the racetrack can be turned out for 30 days and not lose any lung capacity or muscle fitness during that time, per a study performed by Texas A & M. On the flip side, a horse who is not super fit to begin with will begin to lose fitness/lung capacity more quickly. Bottom line is, the more fit a horse is, the less they will lose over a period of time being turned out.
Edited by Herbie 2014-08-08 10:43 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 723
Location: South TEXAS | MY MARE WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE AND I HAD TO BE OFF HER FOR 4 WEEKS, SHE WAS OUT AT NIGHT AND IN STALL DURING DAY. WHEN I STARTING BACK RIDING HER I COULD DEFINATELY TELL SHE WAS OUT OF SHAPE. SHE STILL HAD HER MUSCLE FOR THE MOST PART BUT HER BREATHING LACKED. |
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How Long of Break Before Lose Condition