Hit the Hay for Half an Hour a Day – rest periods at the sales

In the lead-up to the yearling sales, it’s important to remember that rest periods are key. The sales welfare guidelines here explain it in detail. The reason behind the new ‘Hit the Hay for Half an Hour a Day’ campaign is a simple reminder to vendors, consignors, agents and prospective purchasers that every horse in the draft deserves a proper rest.

The guidance

Vendors, consignors and breeders should keep an eye on their horses for signs of fatigue or footsoreness. Foals especially, since they tire faster and feel the effects of a long day sooner than more mature horses do.

For every day a horse is at the sales complex, it should get at least one uninterrupted 30 minute rest period, taken during normal working hours.

During that half hour, the horse should be able to:

• Rest, and lie down if it wants to. A real break from standing and being handled.
• Have free access to hay and water, so it can eat and drink at its own pace.
• Urinate on straw. Many horses won't relieve themselves on hard standing or while being constantly handled, so this matters more than it might seem.

If a horse is looking tired or footsore, let them have longer, or more frequent rest periods through the day.

One more thing worth remembering: take the bit out of the horse's mouth during the rest period.

Why it's worth doing

Well-rested horses show better. A horse that's had the chance to relax, eat and drink, will have a calmer disposition and be easier to handle. This will enable the staff to stand the horse patiently for assessment of its conformation, and to walk it freely and purposefully for evaluation of its movement.

Thirty minutes, once a day, looks after three things:

• Welfare - The horse's basic comfort and physical needs.
• Demeanour - A calmer, more settled horse in the ring or at the stable.
• Sale expectations - A horse showing its true self, not a tired version of it.

Consignors can choose how and when they wish to implement rest periods - they could assess each horse as an individual and rest them as and when indicated; they could ensure that half the draft is available for viewing at any one time, whilst the others are resting; or they could schedule rest periods for the horses to coincide with rest and lunch breaks for employees. 

Read the sales guidelines in full here.