Roughing off is the preparation process whereby a fit horse is readied to be turned out to grass for a rest/holiday.

There are a few reasons why a horse may need a holiday. He could be after a hard couple of months work, e.g a hunter or eventer, the horse may have an injury that he requires rest after, a young horse can be turned away after being backed to mature and grow or the rider may just be taking a break! A break from work can be very beneficial for a horse both mentally and physically.

Here are some tips to make the roughing off process as easy and straightforward for you as an owner and your horse as possible!

The process of roughing off takes about 10 – 14 days. Remember horses are creatures of habit and routine. The process will also depend on the fitness level of the horse and the time of year in which he is going on his holiday.

Factors to consider prior to roughing off your horse:

If the horse is in work, the workload should be cut down gradually. Both in terms of intensity and duration.

Turn out time should be gradually increased so the horse becomes more accustomed to being outdoors for longer periods of time.

Adjust your horse’s diet according to workload as it is gradually reduced.

**Note: sudden changes to a horse’s diet can cause upset so ensure these changes are always done gradually.

Grooming should be cut down to a minimum to allow the natural oils in the coat to build up to help the horse heat naturally.

Treat each horse as an individual, do not treat a thoroughbred as you would an Irish draught. The horse’s coat and general condition will also come into play, this will help you decide if the horse requires a rug while out in the field.

It is important that horses feet get a break too, giving your horse a holiday is an excellent excuse to allow his feet to take a break too. Have the farrier remove his shoes and pair his feet before he goes out.

Before you start the roughing off process ensure your horse is in good health. That his vaccinations are up to date and so is his worming schedule.

Try and choose a nice dry day to turn your horse out of course allowing a couple of hours daylight to keep an eye to ensure he settles into being on his holiday.

And don’t forget, grass kept horses must still be checked on a daily basis.