Freerein Horse Riding Holidays 2013 Winter News

End of the Freerein Horse Riding Holidays 2013 season

Horses return from winter

It’s that time of year again here at Freerein Horse Riding Holidays, the Great Annual Equine Getaway; clocks have gone back, fluffy coats have been grown, shoes removed, tails trimmed, wormers taken and the Eqi-bus boarded. Destination, Gloucestershire; here stocky hedge rows provide shelter and acre upon acre of luscious grass is waiting…a gallop around, a frolic or two then its heads down to sample the grass.

Loading horses on lorry

So, what do the horses actually do over winter?

Relax! After a busy summer looking after guests out on trail, winter is time out. They are not ridden and their requirements are minimal. All Freerein horses are of a hardy native type, as such they do not need rugs, they grow wonderfully think manes, tails and coats which keep them perfectly cosy through winter. The grass in their winter fields has been growing all summer long, each horse will need 3 acres of grazing; this will see him through winter quite happily. Only if there is a prolonged period of snow on the ground will hay be required.

Sunset on the season

Some Interesting Figures From 2013

The Freerein 2013 season was 193 working days long; each Freerein horse spent approximately 66 days out on trail. That’s an average equine working week of 2 to 3 days!