Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
Apologies if I missed it, but is he under 7 years old? Especially if he is also of a heavier (draught cross maybe?) type build. I do think they take longer to come into their own.
Am I asking too much of my horse?
- Thread starter frankieduck
- Start date
frankieduck
Well-Known Member
Would that not be a recurrent lethargy though rather than just at the end of a session on day 6 of a work week? Day off in the field and he’s back to normal. Rest of the week he’s his usually buzzy self. I’m wondering if he’s one who’d benefit from 2 days off throughout the week rather than 1… but then I’m not sure how I’d fit in the amount of work I’d like him doing.
Apologies if I’ve made it sound like he’s on his knees with exhaustion, that’s definitely not the case and he’s his usually peppy self to hack. Will WTC off the leg, he just doesn’t feel as ‘up for it’ as he usually is.
Of course I may be over thinking it and he was just disappointed to return from a hack and go straight in the school and not have his dinner!
frankieduck
Well-Known Member
He’s 12 but had a complete change of career so has never been asked to use himself properly before, which is why I’m cautious of overdoing the strength/schooling side of things.
SEL
Well-Known Member
Another way to see if he's uncomfortable is to ask the vet if it's OK to use danilon for a week and see what you've got.
I would also look at your feeding. I have one with a muscle disease where she needs a low sugar / starch diet but was flat to ride on that. Feeding a small bucket of something with more oomph (I did higher energy grass pellets) 30 mins before riding meant there was more glucose in her system to use for immediate energy. A small feed after work with an amino acid supplement in helped her muscles recover.
Although she got increasingly nappy to ride & it took 2 vets 3 visits to find the damage to her left hind suspensory - they kept telling me she was lazy
sbloom
Well-Known Member
To sound like a broken record vets don't really look at posture and movement patterns compensatory movement patterns especially. These are generally the precursor to lameness. I'm not saying this is the case but, as you say he's not had to use himself correctly then I'd want to assess where he's at very carefully.
I think you've had great suggestions for diet etc which may absolutely be more applicable, but I would assess these factors to see if HOW he is moving is playing a part. Equitopiacenter.com has some good resources for this and is cheap/free.
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
I would feed a lot more protein for a week along with correct ratios of vits and mins as essentially they are not getting much energy in. Good quality protein shouldn’t make them hot. Look at red mills cubes as they do a 14% cube which will be an easy addition. Look to add soya oil as well as will provide a decent source of energy without fizz.
The issue is there is nothing in the grass currently so you cannot rely on that. I would also up the days off to two in a row and see if there is a change as you will know in a week. If no change with upped levels of food and additional rest day then would look for other reasons.
The issue is there is nothing in the grass currently so you cannot rely on that. I would also up the days off to two in a row and see if there is a change as you will know in a week. If no change with upped levels of food and additional rest day then would look for other reasons.
frankieduck
Well-Known Member
Another way to see if he's uncomfortable is to ask the vet if it's OK to use danilon for a week and see what you've got.
I would also look at your feeding. I have one with a muscle disease where she needs a low sugar / starch diet but was flat to ride on that. Feeding a small bucket of something with more oomph (I did higher energy grass pellets) 30 mins before riding meant there was more glucose in her system to use for immediate energy. A small feed after work with an amino acid supplement in helped her muscles recover.
Although she got increasingly nappy to ride & it took 2 vets 3 visits to find the damage to her left hind suspensory - they kept telling me she was lazy
Thank you, certainly not nappy and a keen bean most of the time - just seems to find 6 days work in a row quite tiring even though I don't think what we are doing is particularly taxing, which made me second guess myself! I am partly also wondering if it's a mental tiredness, as he is such a sharp little horse and very 'switched on' all the time, I wonder if i have fried his brain a bit as we have been much busier lately. E.G. A hack out is not a relaxed amble down the lanes, he is very sharp and marching out, looking at everything, having a good spook etc.
frankieduck
Well-Known Member
Thank you, he seems back to normal after a day off so I'm thinking of trying him on 2 days off a week rather than 1, as he just seems to get a bit "meh" on day 6 of consecutive working. When I'd usually use a hack as a day off, I think because he is such a busy horse he doesn't find hacking particularly relaxing. So will break it up into 3 days on, 1 day off, 3 days on etc. and see if that helps.
nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
For a fit healthy horse that’s not over board. Did the vet do bloods?
Otherwise, make sure he’s getting enough protein + iron. I’m now feeding Rooni a feed with flaked banana and higher protein and he does feel better muscle wise (to ride and report from physio).
I generally do 2 days on 1 day off, if I have something after the day off I’ll do a bit of canter work if I can’t hack (I can’t take him on the road / in traffic) or a hack with a canter if I can.
Otherwise, make sure he’s getting enough protein + iron. I’m now feeding Rooni a feed with flaked banana and higher protein and he does feel better muscle wise (to ride and report from physio).
I generally do 2 days on 1 day off, if I have something after the day off I’ll do a bit of canter work if I can’t hack (I can’t take him on the road / in traffic) or a hack with a canter if I can.
P.forpony
Well-Known Member
My lad gets 2 days off a week and it certainly doesn't negatively affect his fitness, judging by the 22km hack last Saturday followed by the 10k hack on Sunday where he bounced home full of the joys of spring!
He's also weakest in canter so gets way more walk and trot work in the early stage, then only canters straight lines on good tracks for a few weeks.
Rest is when the body repairs and rebuilds tissue, not enough recovery time is just as bad as not enough work. They're all different, sometimes you have to experiment with routines until you find what works.
He's also weakest in canter so gets way more walk and trot work in the early stage, then only canters straight lines on good tracks for a few weeks.
Rest is when the body repairs and rebuilds tissue, not enough recovery time is just as bad as not enough work. They're all different, sometimes you have to experiment with routines until you find what works.
frankieduck
Well-Known Member
Thank you guys! I have changed his routine to more of a 4 days on/ 1 day off schedule rather than 6 days in a row and it seems to be working. Although reasonably fit I think I had underestimated how hard a lot of the strength work we are doing is on him with the polework, treadmill and equicore bands etc., so a full day off every few days to chill in the field seems to be doing the job 
eggs
Well-Known Member
As SC mentioned, changing coat can also take it out of them. I remember reading Dr Reiner Klimke's book on Ahlerich and he commented that he did not work him much when he was changing coat.