BACK IN WORK.... *help*

KJJ

KJJ

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OK Jangles (aka Jaguar) is coming back into work after over 1 yr off!!!
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YAY!!!!

He's been ridden a few times in that period - however it wasn't meant to be...
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SOOOOOOOO after having his teeth done today, we are set for the off.. (Am interested in what people suggest)

He has been off due to Strangles, Poll Pain, Bad Back and introduction of NB shoeing (my decision - could have ridden with introduction etc - but didn't due to previous back issues - wanted everything sorted and sound)

Anyways.... was going to lunge him twice a week to start with but he is a demon on the lunge
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and the only way I can lunge is with the pessoa - but TBH I don't want to bring him immediatley back with the pessoa or on a constant circle.
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Have taken the decision to ride (with chiro/farrier/vet agreement) long reining not an option!!
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Sooooooo where do I start - I am planning on 6 weeks walking road work - HOWEVER the shortest 'ride' from me is around 10mins each way (there and back) without having to turn round on myself... is this going to be too much the first few times?

Bare in mind he is a TB and walking won't be an option for the first few rides!!
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*rolls eyes*

Also how often should I ride to start with? twice a week? Every other day?

How long should I build up the walking too? 2-3hrs then intro trot?

Will be getting Chiro out again after a month of walking for a check up.

(Pony whizzes round the field at LEAST 3 times a day - definatley keeps himself fit and busy!!)
 
The rule we always used with the hunters was 1 week walk work for every month off, up to 1 year - so he needs 12 weeks walk work.

I would be starting off very gradually and building up very slowly too, perhaps 3 times a week for the first month, not introducing any major hills until week 6 or seven, starting off with short rides and increasing the time by 5-10 minutes a week (as lets face it, who is that accurate?!).

I would say 10 mins would be fine to start with.
 
If you can sit on him I would sit up on him and ride out on the road - 30 minutes a day would be fine.

Like you say hes TB he marches around the field daily so hes not totally unfit.

I would ride him say 5 times a week, first week stick to 30 minutes, slowly increasing to an hour over 4 wks.

Walking is the best form of excercise, my TBs always got pretty fit just walking. I would only increase to trot up hills and only in the 3rd week.

During end of 4th week I would start lunging him and pole work ie just trotting poles etc.

YOull be surprise how quickly he will come back to full fitness.

If hes likely to be too difficult to sit straight on I would bung him an acp to just keep him sane.
 
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The rule we always used with the hunters was 1 week walk work for every month off, up to 1 year - so he needs 12 weeks walk work.

[/ QUOTE ]Ohh interesting!!!
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I would be starting off very gradually and building up very slowly too, perhaps 3 times a week for the first month, not introducing any major hills until week 6 or seven, starting off with short rides and increasing the time by 5-10 minutes a week (as lets face it, who is that accurate?!).

[/ QUOTE ]No there would be no hills involved - we have a good one but that won't be 'used' until the very last stages of the walk work!!

The problem with increasing the walk is not having the 'blocks' to do.. however now having moved teh boy once he is up to 20mins plus a ride we can go round the village and the side roads etc to increase the time by short periods!!!
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I would say 10 mins would be fine to start with.

[/ QUOTE ]See the prob is that 'there and back = 20mins' as it is a main (ish) road and nowhere to turn round?!
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(Plus don't like turning round on myself - have to do loops! - even if it is round a car/roundabout) LOL!!
 
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If you can sit on him I would sit up on him and ride out on the road - 30 minutes a day would be fine.

[/ QUOTE ]Ohh interesting... think first week will do twice a week then following week maybe every other day (4 times)
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and assess him CONSTANTLY!!!
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Like you say hes TB he marches around the field daily so hes not totally unfit.

[/ QUOTE ]This is it - yes he has lost muscle/topline through his neck.. however he is looking damn fab TBH for a horse that has been off for a year - defined ass and shoulders... the whizzing and trotting around chasing the donkies has seen to that!!
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I would ride him say 5 times a week, first week stick to 30 minutes, slowly increasing to an hour over 4 wks.

[/ QUOTE ] Excellent - thanks for that BB's.
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Walking is the best form of excercise, my TBs always got pretty fit just walking. I would only increase to trot up hills and only in the 3rd week.

[/ QUOTE ]Yes - again would only introduce the hill towards the end of the 'regime' we have plenty of 'walking zones' the villages round here have LOADS of quiet roads and 'blocks' to do.
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During end of 4th week I would start lunging him and pole work ie just trotting poles etc.

[/ QUOTE ]I have 'made' myself an arena in the field marked out wit the jump poles and wings!! LMAO!! Well I had to comprimise and use what I could... we have only been in a school a handful of times!!!
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.... time for me and jaggles to start some 'proper' work!!
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(once he's fit!!)
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YOull be surprise how quickly he will come back to full fitness.

[/ QUOTE ]Yes I should imagine it'll be pretty quick!!!
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If hes likely to be too difficult to sit straight on I would bung him an acp to just keep him sane.

[/ QUOTE ]He won't be stupid.. he will be an angel - what he'll do is try and jog the whole way rather than walking - he is soooo keen when we go out - he will eventually chill out when he realises where we are/what we are doing (only ridden out twice from new place so it's VERY exciting!!)
 
TBH I am sure 20mins won't kill him!

It's just an old rule of thumb I was taught and it has served me well. I'd probably do 3 times a week for 2-3 weeks, then 4 times a week for 2-3 weeks etc etc.

Just go with how he feels too - if he's telling you he can cope with doing more, then I wouldn't mollycoddle him too much, but like anything unfit, build it up slowly to start with.
 
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TBH I am sure 20mins won't kill him!

[/ QUOTE ]No IMO he won't know he's been ridden if I only get on for 10mins!! He'll still have his head in the clouds with excitment!!!
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It's just an old rule of thumb I was taught and it has served me well. I'd probably do 3 times a week for 2-3 weeks, then 4 times a week for 2-3 weeks etc etc.

[/ QUOTE ]Cool thanks - see this is why I asked though to see what each person would do!!
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Just go with how he feels too - if he's telling you he can cope with doing more, then I wouldn't mollycoddle him too much, but like anything unfit, build it up slowly to start with.

[/ QUOTE ]LMAO!! NEVER go with how he feels... he would have me galloping round the field at 90mph if he could HENCE ROADWORK touch grass and we are leaping/bouncing/plunging/screwing!! LMAO!!!
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I hear what your saying though... IF he can control himself enough and realise (which he will) that we are only doing road work for a while I think we will progress pretty quickly. x
 
I don't do 'turning back on myself' either as a rule but when starting out fittening, the walk, up a slight incline, can't call it a hill) to the end of the lane takes 15 plus minutes, not as long on the way back as it's downhill! I do that every other day for a week, then start again and onto a proper block that takes 45 minutes to get round; it also has 2 good banks in it up and down. I do the same, every other day (always alternate which way round I go) for another week, then up it to every day. At the end of the third week, I'll go every day bar one day off, then move on to other blocks but they are longer with more hills; still in walk. When I start after a day off, I will always use the short block to get back into it again gently. By the end of 8 weeks, I'll be covering more miles; usually 2 hours walking at least, then I'll start trotting up the gentler hills, still walking up the stiff ones and on the flat. We are lucky that we do have quiet lanes and the hills as it does help quicken up the process for the lungs but you still have to give them enough time for the legs to harden so I would still be walking mainly for another month, then I feel, if it's been done properly, they are ready enough to start working at other paces too. If you have a school then you can always substitute a day or two in there at slow paces but personally, it's roadwork every time to start them off for me.
 
I wouldn't lunge him personally until he has done a couple of weeks of walking work.

Start off with 20 - 30 mins walking a day and build it up to 1.5 hours gradually over the next couple of weeks.
 
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I don't do 'turning back on myself' either as a rule but when starting out fittening, the walk, up a slight incline, can't call it a hill) to the end of the lane takes 15 plus minutes, not as long on the way back as it's downhill! I do that every other day for a week, then start again and onto a proper block that takes 45 minutes to get round; it also has 2 good banks in it up and down. I do the same, every other day (always alternate which way round I go) for another week, then up it to every day. At the end of the third week, I'll go every day bar one day off, then move on to other blocks but they are longer with more hills; still in walk. When I start after a day off, I will always use the short block to get back into it again gently. By the end of 8 weeks, I'll be covering more miles; usually 2 hours walking at least, then I'll start trotting up the gentler hills, still walking up the stiff ones and on the flat. We are lucky that we do have quiet lanes and the hills as it does help quicken up the process for the lungs but you still have to give them enough time for the legs to harden so I would still be walking mainly for another month, then I feel, if it's been done properly, they are ready enough to start working at other paces too. If you have a school then you can always substitute a day or two in there at slow paces but personally, it's roadwork every time to start them off for me.

[/ QUOTE ]Thanks Pat, I HATE 'turning round' it's a rule I've always had that I just don't do it!! LOL!!!

OK so we are all thinking between 2-4 times the first couple of weeks.... then onwards from there.

I'm lucky as I said (if you can call it that - but in this case I guess it is) tht I have villages that I can extend my ride that little bit further to and 'create' a block for myself and can vary the routes.
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Thankies guys. xx
 
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I wouldn't lunge him personally until he has done a couple of weeks of walking work.

[/ QUOTE ]See this is what I was thinking - the reason I considered was because it would mean I wasn't ON his back.. but will see how he goes....
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Start off with 20 - 30 mins walking a day and build it up to 1.5 hours gradually over the next couple of weeks.

[/ QUOTE ]Will do indeed. x
 
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