Bringing a horse back into work after a longish break

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mareish

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My horse has had a long period where I didn't ride her very much. In Jun/Jul 2015 she had a severe hoof abscess and was very lame. Her hoof eventually healed and I started riding her again but she was unlevel due to muscular problems caused by being very lame for three months with her hoof. So I gave her some time off in the field so she could move around and hopefully start to feel better. She also had some physio.

I started riding her again in March 2016 and she was better and sound. I did work her for about two months but then due to personal circumstances was unable to ride very much through out last summer. She hasn't been ridden at all since October.

I am now going to try again! We have an indoor school but the surface is a little deep. I don't really feel confident to try to hack her out on her own at the moment as she can be spooky and hasn't been on the road at all since last April. I must admit I am feeling a bit unsure about what to do/ how she will behave. She is a kind mare but can be a bit difficult at times when ridden. I used to love riding her and we would hack, school and compete in dressage and pleasure rides but that all seems like a long time ago at the moment.

I would appreciate any advise or comments from anyone else who has been in a similar situation.
 
If she was already an established riding horse, don't worry that she'll have forgotten anything - but what you do need to be aware of is that she won't be physically capable of everything she could do before the lameness until her muscles and fitness are built up again.

I would suggest doing in-hand work with her first, increasing the work time gradually. Then get on and follow a fitness program starting in walk, with increasing time before introducing trot.

IME, it's best to keep the sessions low pressure to start with and for you not to make a big deal of out it. The more of a production you make it, the more likely they are to worry that something untoward is going to happen.
 
If she was already an established riding horse, don't worry that she'll have forgotten anything - but what you do need to be aware of is that she won't be physically capable of everything she could do before the lameness until her muscles and fitness are built up again.

I would suggest doing in-hand work with her first, increasing the work time gradually. Then get on and follow a fitness program starting in walk, with increasing time before introducing trot.

IME, it's best to keep the sessions low pressure to start with and for you not to make a big deal of out it. The more of a production you make it, the more likely they are to worry that something untoward is going to happen.
 
Well she will benefit most from a period of hacking to start with, obviously built up over time. If you aren't confident yourself then Id suggest sending her to someone reliable who can do this for you for a month or two.
 
I would try and get some help but I don't have any spare money at the moment and don't have anyone who would be willing to exercise her for free. She is very much a one person horse and in the past has been very difficult when someone who isn't used to her rides her.

I am going to try to find someone to hack out with me as she is much more settled in company but due to the lack of light at the moment no one else on the yard is hacking either. She is also barefoot so I will need to increase the roadwork carefully to start with until her feet get used to it again. I do have boots I can use to start with to help.
 
I would take her in hand on some of your short hacking routes until she gets used to the sights and sounds of being out and about again. If you take her tacked up, you can start to hop on, on the way back, to build up your confidence and her fitness.
 
That sounds good. She is very good in hand so I'm sure we could get round the lanes. I do a lot of walking anyway so I'll be fine too! I really want to start enjoying riding again. Its been about two years since she was in full work and I just feel like i don't know where to start.
 
You can do on hand work but quite a lot of things to do in walk in the indoor school. People never school enough in walk and you won't have to worry about the surface, then once you have the obedience you can hack.
I know hacking first is ideal, but my event horse after a time off would be suicide to hack out when fresh, I always do a bit of groundwork, walk and trot in the school then progress to hacking. Mine and his safety is paramount and I would rather be decked in a sand school than on a road!
 
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