Best way to fitten a youngster to carry rider?

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cullord

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Is there anything that helps prep a young horse to build the muscle needed to help him carry his rider? Mine was lightly backed early last year and then turned away completely for 10 months. He's 5 this year and I'm back ready to start fittening him up but realise he'll be well out of practice. Should I just start by short 10 minute walks under saddle and build up from there, or are there any lunging or ground work exercises he'd benefit from first to help him build a nice top line?
 
What are you feeding him? Try build up or conditioning cubes.. build up topline! And hillwork is always the best thing for that.... walking up and down hills will do him wonders! Or using a pessoa to help him move from behind so he has to use his muscles. Thats what works for me.. hope that helps :)
 
RedRum13 said:
What are you feeding him? Try build up or conditioning cubes.. build up topline! And hillwork is always the best thing for that.... walking up and down hills will do him wonders! Or using a pessoa to help him move from behind so he has to use his muscles. Thats what works for me.. hope that helps :)
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He's been living out, unclipped but well rugged, until last week. He was on 3kg Conditioning cubes per day and looks really well in himself ATM but I know he'll be totally unfit for carrying a rider.

He coming in at night now, has been clipped (as he gets hot when working) and I'm in the process of switching him over to plain horse & pony cubes as he's getting ad lib hay at night and is quite a hot head.

For the past 3 days I've lunged him for 10 mins (5 mins each side) tacked up and with loose side reins, to get him used to his tack and the feel of reins. Just not sure whether to continue with lunging exercises a bit longer or to start riding him out right away?
 
I'd keep lunging him for like 20 mins then just walk around on him for 10 minutes... gradually build it up. When I brought mine back into work after a leg injury.. I lunged him & long reined him for a few weeks then started riding him after lunging... I'm lucky we have a good a hilly field so just walk up him up down. I would start riding him but just in small doses then slowly increase his work load... any exercise will build up his muscles so go for it :)
 
RedRum13 said:
I'd keep lunging him for like 20 mins then just walk around on him for 10 minutes... gradually build it up. When I brought mine back into work after a leg injury.. I lunged him & long reined him for a few weeks then started riding him after lunging... I'm lucky we have a good a hilly field so just walk up him up down. I would start riding him but just in small doses then slowly increase his work load... any exercise will build up his muscles so go for it :)
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OK thanks. :) Luckily we've loads of hills where we are so those aren't a problem, altho they do present a problem in terms of hacking a totally unfit horse out for the first time - the only way out of the yard is up a long steep lane. It's hard going for even the fittest horse!
 
Longreining, longreining and more longreining :D It is fab for building muscle correctly and if you have suitable tracks/fields/bridleways it is good for getting out and about.

There are a few good books on groundwork too, I'm sure if you do a search on here someone will recommend a good one ('cause I'm having a mindblank :eek: :confused:)

If his weight is ok then I would avoid adding anything conditioning as you will risk him being too on his toes! Correct nutrition is important but only work will build muscle :)
 
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