bringing a horse back into work....

JackDaniels1

JackDaniels1

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... started bringing horse back into work after a foal, how much would you do? i tend to lunge before i get on then just walk on her for 5-10mins. Like opinions on how you would do it please.
 
Personally I wouldnt lunge an out of work horse just coming back into it. I would go more for just walking out for short periods, buildiing it up over a period of time. I would start out on fairly flat routes then bring hill work into it over a month or so. Then bring trot work in as the horse gets fitter and only short collected trot uphill. I would be hacking out only to start off with to fitten and strengthen the horse and bring any schooling work into the picture 2-3 months down the line, even then starting off in walk and gradually building the work up. Canter work would be introduced as and when the horse felt able to do so. I would also take advice from my vet regarding the mare's health after having a foal and would check my intended exercise plan with them.

Hope that gives you some ideas.
 
My tb who has had a year off due to lameness came back into work 2 weeks ago. i dont lunge him as he has bone spavins in his hocks so lunging doesnt do them any good. i walked him out inhand and then got on him, he does 15 mins walkng all on flat and some long reining in very large cirlces in a pessoa in walk for 15 mins. For two weeks he has had work one day, the next day off and then work the next day. As of next week he will do 4 days continuous and then up to five days all in walk for the next six weeks. It is going to be extremely slow but i cannot rush him or he will end up lame again.
 
My mare has just come back into work after 18 months off due to me being preggers then her having a foal. She has been out 24/7 the whole time & i think this helps keep them reasonably conditioned. A month ago i started long reining her around the field in walk then a little trot (not much as i too unfit ;-P )
She has since been lunged walk/trot for 15 mins for last 2 weeks & i rode her for the 1st time on Saturday. I will be riding her 5/6 days a week for 10/15 mins of walk & trot for the next few weeks gradually increasing the time onboard. Will probably not canter for at least a month but will see how she feels & take my queues from her as each horse is an idividual.

good luck & enjoy getting abck on board!
 
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