i have my birds out most day,s in winter. i believe in letting them exercise right through the winter .i also train some birds for a short race in December the xmus race .the way i look at it is racing pigeons or dogs or horses still need exercise even when their race season is at an end. i also think that it is needed more by the long distance fancier. hear is my view on say a human IE Paula radcliffe if you keept her in a living room all winter then told her she had a short time to prepare for a marathon she would tell you she could run it but that she would not win it.this is just my view on it .