Any advice on bringing a horse from the field back into work...?

[ChestnutConvert]

I'm about to take on a horse that has been turned away since the beginning of the year and could do with some tips.
I know about building up the riding slowly but as he has quite a belly on him now i need to know what feed to give him, how best to get him used to a stable again, how much turn out to give him and so on..

 

[Echo Bravo]

do every thing slowly as for feeding if you have to low energy and build up as his work load increases.

 

[Miss L Toe]

I would be reluctant to have him in too much, maybe eight hours per day max, and make sure he has company so he is not stressed.
If his grazing in not lush, you can train from the field, give him long reining to get him going before you ride, include roadwork to harden ligaments. As much walking as possible to get that belly down, in the meantime get his teeth done and his worming program and jabs all checked.
Feet of course, you may not need to shoe him if feet are hard, but make sure he gets a daily feed which provides all his mins and vits.
It might be three months to get him up to a forty minute schooling session.
Try a kg of Fast Fibre per day to start off with.

 

[Luci07]

How fit was he previously?

I would get the normal checks (back, teeth saddle!) done first and then look to starting walk work, probably just 15 mins a day to start with..

 

[Mariposa]

Our ponies are out from Sept-April so when we bring them back into work, we start off by just bringing them in every morning to stand in for around 6 hours. That first week of just coming in every day, means they get used to being back in a routine, and being in the yard. Although they're brought in most weeks over the winter, I think they all go a bit feral not being ridden for so long! Also gives us the opportunity to get teeth/feet done.

I guess our system is a bit different as we're polo, but we start their fitness with 3 weeks walking ( first in the school...and then when we know they are going to be sensible onto the roads !) before they move onto anything else!