A little down - advice please

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KiaKaha

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Hi all new to the forums as i am looking for some advice please.

I had my Throughbred back off loan about 2 months ago - since then i havent done much with him due to the shape he came back in.

He doesnt have a small belly - he is well padded there - cant see any ribs and so on - but he doesnt have any topline or backend - so it looks a bit weird.

I have been feeding him quite a lot of calories since - and he has picked up - however - i didnt want to exercise him as i didnt think he was in great condition to exercise - however i am now thinking it could just be muscle that he is lacking - as he isnt thin - just under muscled.

Would it be a good idea to start lunging and so on - i have been walking him out recently - i wormed him the other week.

He is on - sugar beet pulp, oil, readi grass, vitamin supplement.

Thank you.
 
Photo? How old? Teeth done?

I wouldn't do 'calories', just top-notch forage, which I see you are!

Careful with lunging in the early days. Long-reining is better and check with the shape change that his saddle still fits before you get back on.
 
Thank you both of you.

He is an 8 year old - quite a stressy 8 year old which makes it difficult to keep him in fantastic condition - but he seems relaxed at the moment.

Yeh he had teeth checked when he came back.

I did bring a friend to see him today - she has been with horses a long time - and she just said he needs working as he has no muscle to speak of - i am not doing any riding with him as i cant get the saddler out for another 3 weeks due to him being on holiday.

Thanks again.
 
Lots of long and low work in walk to begin with. Gradually increase exercise time. Lots of road walking will firm everything up. If he's looking a tad poor give a bit of conditioning feed.
 
I've had alot of success with long reining when building up muscles in a horse, started with 10-15 minutes a day and built up to 45. A few friends have had similar success.. sending you some positive vibes as i know it's frustrating
 
Benji1 said:
I've had alot of success with long reining when building up muscles in a horse, started with 10-15 minutes a day and built up to 45. A few friends have had similar success.. sending you some positive vibes as i know it's frustrating
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Thank you - i havent done long reining for years - what are the benefits? Is it actually good for muscle building?
 
I would ditto the long reining ideas above, and possibly some short light hacks when you can get a saddle. How much turnout does he get? If its possible to do 24/7 then thats good imho. Lots of head down eating has always been beneficial to ours :)
 
I found it particularly beneficial when wanting to aid symmeterical muscle development, particularly when I was long reining in straight lines
 
I bet he is lovely! I'd definitely get him working if you want to build up muscle. I think lunging would be OK as long as you remember to work equally on both reins and don't do it every single day. However I would also take him for hacks - in-hand! Use a bridle, lunge rein, boots, tons of hi-viz if you have to do any roadwork and of course a hat and gloves for you. If you're doing roadwork, take somebody else along on foot. If you have any jitters about traffic, stay off-road.

Walking out along routes you'll be hacking in future gives you both a chance to see the sights and sounds and will get him moving forwards, and will build up your fitness for when you start riding. It's also great fun to do on a lovely day. It will help him see you as a team leader, with you working together, even before you get in the saddle, and will help him walk past the first few "gremlins" he sees. You can build in rests, grazing stops, take in the sights, just enjoy yourselves! I think it's a great way to introduce a horse to the idea of hacking out.

When you lunge, encourage him to work long and low, with long side reins on a low setting. You can also get his brain working - and yours - by doing some groundwork. A book like Kelly Mark's "Perfect Manners" has good exercises for building his awareness of his surroundings and his manners, and they are not just for "natural horsemanship types". I think a mix of groundwork, walking in the countryside and lungeing will get him working nicely and ready for some ridden work.

Remember that topline, which is what you are after, comes really from muscle, not fat. I've recently changed on to Pure Feeds and I'm well pleased, though my horse needs condition taken off, not put on!

Let us know how you get on!
 
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