Bringing a horse back into work

[MontyZoom5]

Hi guys,

I am taking a 16hh warmblood on full loan next Saturday.
At the moment he is not in great shape, he does not have much to no muscle at all! He had a vet check last week, the vet said he's a healthy horse just very unfit. My rules from the vet where no jumping for the first 6 weeks and very little canter work. I wish I had a picture to show you, I will try get one on Saturday. But can anyone give me any good exercises to get his top line more muscular (don't know how to phrase it) and in general more fitter without over doing it.

any advice would be helpful, as I am a worried owner and I need to make sure I'm doing everything I possibly can, right, for my horse so he lives a long and healthy life.

so far I have planned to do lots of lunging, but starting without the side reins at first as he is not fit enough to carry himself in an outline so what's the point in using side reins? It will just force his head down and strain his neck!

Over all, I need exercises, advice, methods to bring my horse gently back into his fitter self. He is on Calm and conditioner and chaff. He is currently on that 1 a day but do you think when he comes to me I should give him it 2? Once in the morning once in the evening?

if there are any other good feeds you think help with topline, building up muscles ect. Please let me know and I will check them out. Or any supplements that might be useful. He is a very high in energy horse, even when unfit he is extremely forward going and when being ridden you wouldn't think him an unfit horse!


Thank you very much if you read all this, sorry for rambling on! If you need any more details let me know. Oh and he is 12 years old! Thank you!

 

[dodgers89]

I am also about to loan a horse who hasn't been in much work for a while, although he's a tb. I will be watching this post with interest

 

[MontyZoom5]

Excellent! Good luck to you, not that you will be needing it I'm sure! X

 

[be positive]

If he is really weak I would not be lunging him other than maybe to just get him settled and his back down if required before getting on for the first time. Lots of walking at least 4 weeks, if possible on the roads, then short trots gradually increasing until he starts to look better, it will take time especially in the winter to really notice improvement, I would not canter until he has been in work for at least 6 weeks and no jumping for another 2 or 3.
With the high energy horses you have to be more disciplined and go slowly, they think they can do more than they should so to get him well built up take as long as you can, it will be worth it in the long term.
Feed plenty of hay, 2 or 3 small feeds a day and linseed or oil to add calories without excess fizz, it will be good for his skin and feet also.

 

[MontyZoom5]

Hi,

Thank you for your advice. Forgot to add he does have linseed in his feed as well. He is not really really unfit, he has been ridden about 1 a week for the past 2 months and that's about it. I just need to build up that topline, shoulders and back end a bit more!

Thank you very much,

 

[oldie48]

Is there any reason has he been off work except perhaps for not having a rider? I'd also be doing road work, fast walk, slow trot and work him in an outline, that will not only mean you can contain his energy and stop any silliness as he gets fitter but it will also build up his topline. I'd be very careful with feed, the suggestions you've had are good but I'd be careful not to get him too fit or fizzed up with feed too soon. Take advantage of his current lack of fitness to get to know him and get your confidence, if you can. As he's been off work for a while, he's probably a bit stiff, so if you have the use of a school, do some work to supple him, you can also do this on hacks. If you look on the web, there are lots of ideas. Good luck. I've got a WB and he's a lazy toad, wish I could fizz him up a bit but he just gets fat!

 

[MontyZoom5]

Hi,

Thanks very much! Very helpful, yes I do know not to give him a huge feed straight away and get him super fit as soon as I can as that's when they turn into monsters! This is going to be a very slow process, and I hope to learn a lot from it! Yes I have use of a school, good sized one too! I can do lots of work on the road. Interested to know why do you suggest road work? Thanks very much for your help!

 

[be positive]

Road work is great for general conditioning if they walk out well they build up without being pushed, the muscles should work evenly, walking up hills will make a huge difference to the topline, you can school out hacking with less risk of injury from doing too much.
By feeding several small feeds, the same overall quantity but split, they get more benefit from it.

 

[MontyZoom5]

Road work is great for general conditioning if they walk out well they build up without being pushed, the muscles should work evenly, walking up hills will make a huge difference to the topline, you can school out hacking with less risk of injury from doing too much.
By feeding several small feeds, the same overall quantity but split, they get more benefit from it.

Thank you v. Much! At the moment with his current owner he is fed 1 a day. When he comes to me he will be on 2 smaller feeds a day. Do you think in time, I should slowly put him on 3 feeds a day? Or what that be too much? Shall I just stick to lots of hay! ?

 

[be positive]

Thank you v. Much! At the moment with his current owner he is fed 1 a day. When he comes to me he will be on 2 smaller feeds a day. Do you think in time, I should slowly put him on 3 feeds a day? Or what that be too much? Shall I just stick to lots of hay! ?

Lots of hay with 2 small feeds is fine, only give a 3rd if it fits with your routine or you feel he really requires the extra one, I feed mine at late night check so it it easy to split the feeds into 3, not everyone can do this.

 

[catroo]

I'd keep lunging minimal and do lots of roadwork, really good way to get them fit and strengthen ligaments etc. You want a good stride out, no ambling along and make the most of any hills you have. It's also a great way to start doing some schooling before you get into the school

What are your plans with him?

Unless he's underweight or a poor doer theirs no need to increase feed at this stage, just split the same volume over two feeds. Adlib forage is the best way.