bringing a horse back into work after 4 years!

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serena2005

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where to start!?

ok shes about 10 years old hanovaion, not been ridden a great deal in the last 4 years (from what iv been told) just wandered about really.

iv been asked to help her owner start to ride her as the owner hasnt ridden in 15 years!
we are going to lunge her next week and iv advised she gets a saddle for it, as the one shes been ridden in isnt hers.
obiviosly every horse is different and we will go at her pace and only do what everyone is comfortable with doing, but how long before you start asking more of the horse?
i dont know this horse but people have said she is sharp and can be naughty, because she has been dressage trained (how much i dont really know) i think she might also be naughty because shes bored with plodding round the school with a ridder that she knows is scared of her.

also she has become very attatched to another horse and when they are apart the other mare becomes a little stressed and calls for her which as you can imagine would then upset our horse.

so where to go from lunging.... any thoughts, advise experiences...? thankyou
 
blucanoo1990 said:
Long rein, treat her as unbacked.

Go for short hacks with another horse.

Dont push her too far too quickly just see how she progresses.

It will be a big change for her!
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yes was thinking of hacking with my old boy hes as bomb proof as they come, didnt think of long reining thats a good one cheers.

i really hope she enjoys coming back into work, i dont want to spook her by rushing things.
 
Im bringing a horse back into work after 2 years. Have been for about a month.
She is an ex intermediate eventer, 16.1hh, 15 yrs old tb x warmblood.

We didnt do the long reining/lungeing etc....she was tacked up slowly, ridden down the lane to check she wasnt going to go wild and then thats that.....gentle hacking out in walk for the first 3 weeks, just started doing a bit of trot work with her and she has been amazing. But always has been good to do.

It depends on how much they have done in the past and what they have done really so just go at a pace that the horse is happy with. But with mine i think she is really pleased to be working and is loving getting out and about.

See how they react to tack etc and then see how they are when you sit on them before heading off down the road etc.
Make sure you take it slowly as it will take a while for muscles/ligaments and tendons to get used to working again.

Also have someone go out with you a few times either walking, on a bike or another horse just to be safe.

Good luck.
 
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