I bought two horses at the end of September, one is 4 the other 6. Both are Thoroughbred ex-racehorses and are generally very calm and level headed. They live here at our stable. My husband and I rode them about five times in October/November, and they were excellent, especially for being in a new place. They were good to ride, but then winter hit. We get a lot of ice here, and it's been very cold (I live in Ontario Canada) so we haven't ridden since November. What I am wondering is, when I go to ride them again when the weather warms up, will they remember their training or will they go crazy and start bucking us off, LOL! I've never owned a horse before, so I don't know what other riders do when they cut down on riding in the winter and the horse has the winter off, when they start up riding again in spring. It's making me anxious and worried that I'll get hurt, or ruin a perfectly good horse by not riding him enough. Thanks for any tips/help/advice :)

Avoid beginning to ride them again on windy days--they are more likely to be rambunctious. Have someone who knows how to lunge a horse lunge them both for 20 minutes before you ride the first couple of rides. The best way to lunge is with frequent transitions between gaits (no more than 2 or 3 circles around before changing gaits or direction--it makes them listen to you. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

You can also do ground work to make them listen--when you are leading them stop them and have them back every 10 strides or so. Lead in circles and half circles, too. They will be more responsive to you. Continue this work when you ride...use frequent circles and half circles plus transitions and backing. I would recommend you learn how to do one rein stops also and practice them starting at a walk and continuing until you and your horse can do it at any gait and circling both directions (be sure to practice on both sides for the same number of tries-- ie turn both ways--each day for 5 min). It will let you stop your horse if s/he gets silly.

Good luck with your horses.

They won't forget their training, but don't be surprised if they are super hyper for the first ride. So yes, they might go crazy and buck, but they won't forget their training. Some horses, after not being ridden for a while, get overexcited and act like idiots. Once they're back in work they will calm down and be normal again.

idk your horses but they shouldnt forget the training. you may need to go easy on them for a few rides but no, they shouldnt forget. if they DO start bucking its for a different reason. maybe because the cold or because its been a while since you rode them.

Really depends on the horse. Just keep it at a walk for the first few rides. They'll probably act fresh, most TBs do, so you could lunge them before you ride or do ground work for a bit. Horses don't forget usually, they just need a refresher and can be lazy. I know some horses that if they aren't ridden in a week, they become a pain in the butt and will be crow-hopping and all that and some horses, if they haven't been ridden in almost a year, can act like perfect angels.

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I'm not sure about just a few months but I do know of horses that will throw a rider if they haven't been ridden for over a year. You will still have to exercise them periodically. You will have to lunge them at least twice a week and when you do put the saddle on them so they don't become desensitized. Like most animals horses are creatures of habit. If you don't perform a task with regular frequency they will not forget but become desensitized to the task.

There are cleats available that screw into the shoes. Your blacksmith will help you there. We rode all year round and the cleats are the best way to stop slipping.

They won't forget their training, they might be a little excited, but they won't forget how to be a good horse under saddle. Just remind them who's boss and don't put up with them if they are misbehaving.