But for one of Otago's classiest recent race mares, it means life has got a whole lot busier.
New Years Jay has been brought back into work after being retired last year and is about to have her racing career reignited.
New trainer Graeme Anderson will trial the smart pacer at Oamaru today, before a possible start in the Kurow Cup on Sunday.
Age has not wearied the now 10yr-old, who is bright and vibrant and looking half her age.
''She is incredibly well. She came in looking super and she looks even better now,'' Anderson said.
New Years Jay has had an extended build-up to her race return after co-owner Brian Anderton brought her back into work over the winter. She had failed to get in foal after being retired more than 12 months ago.
The Washington VC pacer last started in July last year, after a two-start stint with Auckland trainer Barry Purdon, who received her from Amber Hoffman's Waikouaiti stable.
Though New Years Jay showed she was competitive in Auckland's higher classes with a win and a third, Purdon felt the mare was not 100% and was being affected by soreness, Anderton said.
That led the thoroughbred trainer, who owns the horse with the estate of the late Bryan ''Mouse'' Kennedy, to retire the mare and send her to Woodlands Stud, where she was served by champion sire Bettor's Delight, he said.
New Years Jay failed to conceive and, rather than her having an unproductive year waiting for the next breeding season, Anderton brought the horse back into work for pre-training at White Robe Lodge, as she done before all her racing preparations.
The mare then joined Anderson's beach stable, where she has continued to show no signs of the soreness that had bothered her, leading into her racetrack return.
''I cannot fault her. She is pacing beautifully and she is steering well and running straight, which she never used to do,'' Anderson said.
After today's trial and her possible Kurow Cup tilt, New Years Jay and her new stablemate Titan Banner were likely to target the Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington early next month, Anderson said.
In making her way to Westwood Beach, New Years Jay has taken the place of her younger half-sister in Anderson's stable.
Delightful Jay has gone in the opposite direction to her older sibling in going from the track to the broodmare paddock. The 5yr-old, who won once and placed twice in four starts for Anderson, is in foal to Washington VC and is due to foal in November.
Oamaru harness trials.-
Noon start.
Race 1, 0w trot, 2500m: Our Gracie, Castleton Tui, Rydgemont Son.
Race 2, 0w pace, 2000m: Sefton Hooligan, Green Machine, Arizona Highway.
Race 3, mob pace, 2000m: Jingle Jingle, Millwood Daisy, Elusive Flight.
Race 4, hcp trot, 2600m: Cocktail Waiter, Dream Big, Stylish Duke 20m, Pyramid Magic 30m.
Race 5, hcp pace, 2600m: Mickey Jay, Fastroundtown, Until Further Notice 10m, Igottastar 20m, Playboy Prince 20m, New Years Jay 40m.
