Halfstep
Well-Known Member
My lovely boy was off for over a month with a new splint that caused low level lameness. He was turned out but not ridden until he came sound (around three weeks ago). I've brought him back into work slowly, and finally yesterday did some proper schooling for the first time. He felt amazing - like he has has ironed out some of his baby problems while he was off work! I was thrilled to bits as I had been so worried about him.
Anyway, that's the self indulgent part. Now I need to get him into full work and ready to go out again. My problem is that he is inherently lazy. When he is fired up (if he finds something to spook at for example) I can channel that energy and he is brilliant. But I find it difficult to get him to that point. He's a typical warmblood - big movement but quite happy to swan along not quite fully in front of the leg. He gets away with it as his paces are so good. But I need to have the feeling he gives me when he is fired up in order to bring him further.
He is rising 6, working elementary, competing novice. In full work he is schooled or lunged four times a week, hacked the rest, usually competed once a week. He's a very good do-er, in fact he put on a bit of a belly while out of work, despite not being fed much at all. Now in light/medium work he is fed Hi Fi, D+H Country cubes (1/3 scoop per day divided into two feeds), sugar beet and oil, as well as Biotal equine gold and Cortaflex. I've taken him off haylege due to his weight but he has adlib hay. He's turned out from 6.30am till 3pm most weekdays.
Does anyone have any strategies (exercise regime, feeding, or otherwise) to help me up his energy levels (without increasing his weight or turning him into a nutcase - lol)? His engine is there, I just need to figure out a way of firing it reliably.
Thanks!
x
Anyway, that's the self indulgent part. Now I need to get him into full work and ready to go out again. My problem is that he is inherently lazy. When he is fired up (if he finds something to spook at for example) I can channel that energy and he is brilliant. But I find it difficult to get him to that point. He's a typical warmblood - big movement but quite happy to swan along not quite fully in front of the leg. He gets away with it as his paces are so good. But I need to have the feeling he gives me when he is fired up in order to bring him further.
He is rising 6, working elementary, competing novice. In full work he is schooled or lunged four times a week, hacked the rest, usually competed once a week. He's a very good do-er, in fact he put on a bit of a belly while out of work, despite not being fed much at all. Now in light/medium work he is fed Hi Fi, D+H Country cubes (1/3 scoop per day divided into two feeds), sugar beet and oil, as well as Biotal equine gold and Cortaflex. I've taken him off haylege due to his weight but he has adlib hay. He's turned out from 6.30am till 3pm most weekdays.
Does anyone have any strategies (exercise regime, feeding, or otherwise) to help me up his energy levels (without increasing his weight or turning him into a nutcase - lol)? His engine is there, I just need to figure out a way of firing it reliably.
Thanks!
x
