01/08/2025
If you are away on holiday and no one is exercising your horse for one or even two weeks, your horse is not going to lose a lot of fitness. Don't worry about your horse, the break will be as good for them as it is for you!
The studies into exercise - training and detraining - suggest that it takes approximately 2 - 4 weeks for heart rate responses to change, 4 weeks (with turnout) for bone mineral density to reduce significantly and 4 weeks muscle endurance capacity to reduce.
So a week on the beach for you, and a week in the field for your horse will be fine! I would suggest you should return to work progressively when you are back, and check that they are coping with what you are asking them to do. The 'skills' side of things should be OK as well, after a couple of easier lower intensity sessions.
I get asked this question a lot, and there are differences if your horse has an injury or is on box rest, but a fit healthy horse does not need to be constantly in full work to maintain their fitness. So go on - have a cocktail and relax🍹😎🏖
