HORSE SENSE: The roughing off process
By
Orlaith Cuddihy
on 11 October 2017
ROUGHING off is the preparation process whereby a fit horse is readied to be turned out for a rest/holiday at grass.
There are a few reasons why a horse may need roughing off. These include: the horse may be due a break after working hard all season, the horse may have an injury, a young horse can be turned away to grow and mature or the rider may be taking a break. A break from work can be very beneficial for the physical and mental well-being of the horse.
The process takes roughly 10-14 days. However it depends on the level of fitness of the horse and the time of year.
Factors to consider prior to roughing off:
Grass-kept horses still need to be checked on a daily basis.
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