Flicker
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have a good fitness regime for a healthy horse who has been at grass for the winter? Im helping a friend bring her horse back into work after she turned him away to have a baby. Hes been out for 4 months. For the last month shes ridden him gently once a week for half an hour and now wants to start bringing him back into full work. With baby, she wont have much time so I will be doing a lot of the work. Hes coming to my Livery yard. We have access to:
Indoor and outdoor schools
Jumps and poles
Horse walker
Turnout - limited in winter but 4 days a week guaranteed turnout, the rest weather dependent
Hacking on and off road (more on than off)
One steep hill
I work full time so will ride evenings and weekends.
Neither of us minds how long it will take. The key for us is to do it safely. He has an old tendon sheath injury that has never given him any trouble, but we are conscious that we need to ensure that the tendon is not overloaded.
The horse is a full ID and a very good doer. He is quite fat.
And he is hairy. When is too late in the year to clip?
Those of you who do this sort of thing regularly, it would be so helpful to hear from you in terms of what works and what we need to be aware of and careful with.
Thank you!
Indoor and outdoor schools
Jumps and poles
Horse walker
Turnout - limited in winter but 4 days a week guaranteed turnout, the rest weather dependent
Hacking on and off road (more on than off)
One steep hill
I work full time so will ride evenings and weekends.
Neither of us minds how long it will take. The key for us is to do it safely. He has an old tendon sheath injury that has never given him any trouble, but we are conscious that we need to ensure that the tendon is not overloaded.
The horse is a full ID and a very good doer. He is quite fat.
And he is hairy. When is too late in the year to clip?
Those of you who do this sort of thing regularly, it would be so helpful to hear from you in terms of what works and what we need to be aware of and careful with.
Thank you!