Amount of work...

Queenbee

Queenbee

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Ok, another brain picking session for you... As some of you will have read, the dude is entered into royal Cornwall show.... That's the sixth of June so not far away at all.

Currently he is doing either hacking, with lots of walk and trot transitions and hill work, or a short warm up and then 10 mins in the Pessoa at a long and low setting mostly in walk but now starting to incorporate trot too... I'm considering, on the days that he goes in the Pessoa, tacking him up and doing a further 20mins hack later that day. I'm sure he can take it, but I don't want to push it as he is only just coming up to four.

What are people's views on this? To much or not to much?
 
I'd be doing a lot less lungeing with a 4yr old and more gentle schooling and tbh preferably schooling on hacks.
 
SusieT said:
I'd be doing a lot less lungeing with a 4yr old and more gentle schooling and tbh preferably schooling on hacks.
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Hmmm, but I didn't say how much lunging he does... As it is he currently does 3 sessions a week, which equates to a total of 30 mins a week in a Pessoa with probably an additional 15 mins warming up, 95 percent (prob even more) of which is in walk... I don't think that is extreme or strenuous. I do school on hacks, and we do hack. I rarely bother schooling in the arena. I'm asking if on these days that I currently lunge adding a hack to his schedule later in the day would be ok. I'm not asking if the lunging or amount of lunging is ok as I'm happy with that.
 
I think he'd be absolutely fine. It's not as if you're lunging him till he's on his knees! You're doing 10 mins of walk (how is he still alive?!).
 
Constant circling has been proven to damage joints (the circular horse walkers v oval horse walkers research). Therefore I would be sparing with lungework.
 
I'm a fan of hacking youngsters, which you mostly do. I really don't think 10 minutes mostly in walk with a pessoa is going to harm him at all.
So, yes, get on and ride as well. He's not a china doll, hopefully he's a healthy fit young horse.
I dislike lots of schooling for very young horses, the hacking is strengthening and therefore, a quick, light session on the lunge and riding later in the day is, in my humble opinion, no problem at all.
Better to work 6 days a week doing varied things than just ride 3 times.
 
Thank you to all who answered my question 'should I ditch the lunging' even though I didn't ask that:rolleyes:

GS he is four, not three... Not quite sure where NNH got three from.


Horserider, thank you for reading and answering my question.
 
QB probably the phrase "he's just coming up 4" made people think he was three. I did think he was 4 though!

You asked the question "is this too much?". I think the posters saying ditch the lunging are answering that - yes the lunging makes it too much, not the idea of doing more hacking. Otherwise, my straight answer to your initial question is that, in my opinion, yes it is too much.
 
JFTD said:
QB probably the phrase "he's just coming up 4" made people think he was three. I did think he was 4 though!

You asked the question "is this too much?". I think the posters saying ditch the lunging are answering that - yes the lunging makes it too much, not the idea of doing more hacking. Otherwise, my straight answer to your initial question is that, in my opinion, yes it is too much.
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See its not that hard is it:p

I get what your saying, buts since the lunging is not the addition but the constant in this case... It is the riding that makes it too much, if in fact it is too much.


So, your opinion is that 10 mins in a Pessoa, and then a 20 mins hack later in the day is too much... Ok. Thank you, that is all I asked for :)
 
I can tell from you responses that you don't want an opinion, just confirmation that you are doing the right thing, but here goes....

Riding - not too much
Lunging - too much

IMO, reducing the riding would still mean too much unsuitable exercise for rising 4.
 
Queenbee said:
I get what your saying, buts since the lunging is not the addition but the constant in this case... It is the riding that makes it too much, if in fact it is too much.
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Erm . . . but riding isn't the same as lunging wrt the way the horse is worked and the stress on young joints, etc. What people have said is that the lunging is too much . . . it's their opinion - which you asked for. I'm utterly confused about the original point of your question, tbh.

P
 
Perhaps you could long rein him a couple of times instead of lunging :).. just a thought and shakes it up a bit..

Personally, if he/you can get him to work correctly when ridden, i was suggest ride him instead of lunging.. it'll be more beneficial for all parties concerned:).

When it comes down to lunging babies, i prefer to long rein instead.. i too feel that it puts to much strain on the joints and that they have plenty of years to lunge in the future.. (i like to start lunging at 5, when i break/back my youngsters i tend to either loose school or just long rein to be honest)..

:-), i'm sure what your doing won't kill him and at the end of the day he's your chap and its up to you what you do with him work wise.. Good luck for Royal cornwall.. i was going to enter Hugo but he's still looking like a fluffy Yak.. so am hanging on for stithians!
 
magicmoose said:
I can tell from you responses that you don't want an opinion, just confirmation that you are doing the right thing, but here goes....

Riding - not too much
Lunging - too much

IMO, reducing the riding would still mean too much unsuitable exercise for rising 4.
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No MM, you cant tell that, you are assuming that because Im a bit ticked off that people cant answer the question in hand. I asked for opinions as to whether an additional hacking session on the same day as a 10 minute pessoa session was too much or not...

What I got is... 'Stop lunging', don't lunge, just hack'.

I asked a simple yes or no question and got answers to a question I had not asked...

It's simply not a case of me not wanting confirmation that that level of work is ok, it was me asking is it ok or not, so I can make an informed decision, but when people won't answer the question you ask... Yes, I do get arsey.
 
PolarSkye said:
Erm . . . but riding isn't the same as lunging wrt the way the horse is worked and the stress on young joints, etc. What people have said is that the lunging is too much . . . it's their opinion - which you asked for. I'm utterly confused about the original point of your question, tbh.

P
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Confused as to why people are unable to get a simple question tbh...

If I walk Ben with a couple of circuits of trot in a Pessoa on a long and low setting for ten minutes in the morning, should I leave it at that or would it be ok to hack out for 20 mins in the afternoon... That was the point of the question... And at this point... I give up.

Perhaps I just have pms or something
 
I think two short periods of work per day is perfect for four year old the work sounds perfect .
I would be doing short periods ridden in the school at four but would never ever put a Pessoa on a four yo.
But hacking out and about over varied terrain is the best investment you can make in the four year old but do lunge.
Just trust your guts and enjoy it but don't get too hung up on show preparation ( unless showing is your 'thing' of course ).
I love this stage.
 
Goldenstar said:
I think two short periods of work per day is perfect for four year old the work sounds perfect .
I would be doing short periods ridden in the school at four but would never ever put a Pessoa on a four yo.
But hacking out and about over varied terrain is the best investment you can make in the four year old but do lunge.
Just trust your guts and enjoy it but don't get too hung up on show preparation ( unless showing is your 'thing' of course ).
I love this stage.
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Thank you :) and I can't say how much showing 'isn't' my thing... I'm bricking it! But I really want to do it to the very best of my/our ability. We have a show (small, local practice) on the 11th may, an in hand class at that show and then I will just ride him around the show ground. We then have a show the first weekend in June, then the big RCS, after that... I'm pretty much done for the year other than taking him out at the end of the seasons for a few clear rounds. So once we hit mid June all the show worry will be a thing of the past... Thankfully, I have some fabulous people around me to do the bits I hate... Pulling tails etc!

Edited to say we are also hoping to do a bit of dressage this winter so will be starting schooling soon... I hate schooling too. :(
 
I would suggest, if I dare, that long reining is far more benificial for a youngster than lunging........... but perhaps you hate doing that also. :rolleyes:
 
Queenbee said:
I asked a simple yes or no question and got answers to a question I had not asked....
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Unfortunately the majority of posters seem to think, as I do, that it is not a simple yes or no question.

I genuinely only have your horse's welfare at heart, especially having seen your YouTube lunging video, but if you are happy with your decisions, I guess that is your choice.
 
Having seen the video I would say the Pessoa isn't going to do any harm as he is hardly moving in it anyway.

Oh, and I'm waiting for an apology for the comment you made about me not caring whether horses die, even after I had given helpful advice, but I see you've gone quiet on that thread....
 
Actually - your post is titled "Amount of work" and your question is open to misinterpretation.

I'm sure the posters who suggested perfectly politely that you might consider dropping the lunging in favour of more hacking thought that they were being helpful. FWIW I agree with them - lunging any horse, let alone a 3 yr old, in a Pessoa is hard work. It may only be for 10 mins, but try walking up and down stairs for 10 minutes - no matter how slowly you do it, it still feels like pretty hard work after a while

I think your responses t people attempts to help have been inexcusably rude. There's really no need for it.
 
justabob said:
I would suggest, if I dare, that long reining is far more benificial for a youngster than lunging........... but perhaps you hate doing that also. :rolleyes:
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I would LR him but as others have mentioned he is not the most... Erm forward horse, if I don't fancy riding, then we LR behind someone else on a hack but generally I like a mix of work in the school and on the rd.

paulineh said:
To answer your question. I would say that a short hack out on the same day as you lunge would be fine. Make it fun and educational for him.
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Thanks, I did do both today and he did seem to deal with it ok, we did 10. Mins in the school on the Pessoa and then a half hour hack... We stuck to walk on the lunge and lots of transitions on the hack... He seemed to deal well, but I'm taking it day by day.


magicmoose said:
Unfortunately the majority of posters seem to think, as I do, that it is not a simple yes or no question.

I genuinely only have your horse's welfare at heart, especially having seen your YouTube lunging video, but if you are happy with your decisions, I guess that is your choice.
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I do understand that not everyone feels its that simple... But I was asking yes or no... If they don't think it's that simple then surely the answer is no.

They are my videos,but not me lunging And the girl in those videos doesn't ride/lunge Ben anymore. So yes, I'm happy with my decisions.

LollyDolly said:
No offence QB but I've seen a few of your posts recently and you do seem quite er, stressed as of late.

I hope that everything is going ok for you :D
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Yep, was stressed in the last thread about the thin horse... But I suppose that would grind on me... It's nearly a year since I lost my baby girl :( bless the only stress with Ben is that he sheds his coat in time, but thank you, I think I'm a bit tender at the moment and apologise if that is coming through

Billie1007 said:
Having seen the video I would say the Pessoa isn't going to do any harm as he is hardly moving in it anyway.

Oh, and I'm waiting for an apology for the comment you made about me not caring whether horses die, even after I had given helpful advice, but I see you've gone quiet on that thread....
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Nope, he is the laziest horse I've ever ridden, and I'm pretty sure I made such a comment in general... And that is a seperate thread and yes, I've walked away from that because it was ticking me off... Op had made some errors, but the horse was my primary concern and arguing with people was not something I felt was in anyway productive.


Auslander said:
Actually - your post is titled "Amount of work" and your question is open to misinterpretation.

I'm sure the posters who suggested perfectly politely that you might consider dropping the lunging in favour of more hacking thought that they were being helpful. FWIW I agree with them - lunging any horse, let alone a 3 yr old, in a Pessoa is hard work. It may only be for 10 mins, but try walking up and down stairs for 10 minutes - no matter how slowly you do it, it still feels like pretty hard work after a while

I think your responses t people attempts to help have been inexcusably rude. There's really no need for it.
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He is four not three :(. Well four next month. I personally think that willfully ignoring the question to jump on your soap box is just as rude tbh, if you can't address the point in question, don't comment...
 
Nope. You quoted me and said I wouldn't 'give a care' if the horse died. Nice. So not a general comment or are you now saying that all posters on that thread wouldn't care if the horse died!?!
 
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