Bringing a horse into work that hasn't been ridden in 6yrs

Saxon_Jasmine

Saxon_Jasmine

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Does anyone have any advise for my friend?

She bought a mare 2 weeks ago who raced as a 2 yr old (once), bred 2 foals, and was then turned out. She hasn't been ridden in 6 years and I'm not sure if she was re schooled after racing.

My friend bought her from the field (she passed a 5* vetting) and now wants to bring her into ridden work. How does she go about this?

Personally I'd lead and long rein for a while. She has been lunging her and wants to start riding her this week.

Ideas please?

Thank you :)
 
I'm no expert but would take it very very slow. After long reining and leading out, I would just start riding in walk for short distances, and gradually build it up. I personally wouldn't want to lunge until the horse was a bit more supple and fit.
 
When my horse as ever had time off, the advice from my vet is increase work by 10% a day, I started walking for 15 mins and increased as advised, walked for what could have been a month, then when you want to start trotting, he said whatever time you are riding in walk for, at first trot for 10% of that time and increase, I had a spreadsheet pinned outside my stable and I used to tick off each day
 
Slowly, slowly, slowly. I definately wouldn't lunge. But would walk out, quietly building up over the weeks to longer periods time..
 
Well what i did with lady, i tacked her up (so she was used to extra weight on her) and lunged/worked with her. then i slowly put my weight on her (like how you would if you were backing a horse for the first time) :) then i sat on her....just sat there for the first 2 times, then she was walk for a couple of mins :D it just went from there really, walked and trotted on her on lunge, then i was off the lead rope and she was good as gold :) it all happened over about 2 or 3 weeks...

i think she should tack up her horse and work with it so its used to the weight, then just slowly increase the weight then sit on the horse :) progress to a walk, etc. :) hope it all goes well :D
 
Kate and Toto, Noisy Girl and AmyMay -

Thank you for your suggestions and I agree. However my friend doesn't seem to be listening to my advice, or to anyone elses. How does one tactically tell someone they're doing it wrong? She is desparate to ride the horse and say's she can do what she likes with her, as it's her horse. I know the horse is hers, but I can't watch her lunge and ride when the horse blatently not ready, muscle wise, fitness wise and probs psychologically wise.

Thank you :)
 
Feel for you being in this situation and of course the horses fitness and ability to hold a rider is going to need time to develop.

Can you point out how uncomfortable the horses will find it to be asked to work and have someone on here back so soon after coming back into work? If you put the emphasis on how difficult it will be for her beloved pony??
 
Saxon_Jasmine said:
Kate and Toto, Noisy Girl and AmyMay -

Thank you for your suggestions and I agree. However my friend doesn't seem to be listening to my advice, or to anyone elses. How does one tactically tell someone they're doing it wrong? She is desparate to ride the horse and say's she can do what she likes with her, as it's her horse. I know the horse is hers, but I can't watch her lunge and ride when the horse blatently not ready, muscle wise, fitness wise and probs psychologically wise.

Thank you :)
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In that case - walk away and let her get on with it. Difficult as it may be.:o
 
amymay said:
In that case - walk away and let her get on with it. Difficult as it may be.:o
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That way if she gets hurt or damages her horse (lets hope she doesnt!!) then you can always say 'well we tried to help but you wouldnt listen' the guilt would be on her and hopefully she would learn from her mistakes...
 
Saxon_Jasmine said:
Kate and Toto, Noisy Girl and AmyMay -

Thank you for your suggestions and I agree. However my friend doesn't seem to be listening to my advice, or to anyone elses. How does one tactically tell someone they're doing it wrong? She is desparate to ride the horse and say's she can do what she likes with her, as it's her horse. I know the horse is hers, but I can't watch her lunge and ride when the horse blatently not ready, muscle wise, fitness wise and probs psychologically wise.

Thank you :)
Click to expand...

Sorry that'll teach me for skim reading, didn't notice the bit where she hadn't been ridden for SO long ! definately start by leading then long reining, she doesn't deserve her if she's not going to treat her properly, how would she like it if you told her she had to do a marathon tomorrow ! If she takes it to quickly it could start problems that might not have happened has she taken it slowly
 
I'm just starting a 15 year old broodmare who has not been ridden for at least 6 years - if ever.

Starting right back at square one with walking out, long reining (not lunging as too much mud and no school at home) and got around to backing her last week and then leading out with lightweight rider for 300 yeards or so.

we will be building up over the next couple of months (depending on weather) and hope to have her hacking out this summer.

Try asking your friend if she has made a will?
 
Ditto what everyone else has said, I'd basically go back to basics, and do the breaking process again! Better to be on the safe side! Plus you'd need to slowly build up the horses muscle as well as their mental state!
As its her horse, you can only really advise, its upto her what she does, but maybe if it goes all wrong, then she might value your advise more! You could always make up a story, simialr to hers, eg someone of the forum had a case similar to hers, and got on it and ended up in hospital! Worth a try maybe!
 
Can you point out (tactfully) that the mare will probably "break" if she is rushed and every slow step now should be seen as a building block towards a long term sound horse. My mare had been out of work for over 2 years as a broodie and I bought her to go back to eventing. I didn't long rein her because she was a bit of a handful but we effectively rebacked her and then I started to walk her. And the first time out was 5 minutes - timed and building up. Worth it - made the end of the eventing season and had a lot of fun with her. Perhaps you can point out that hunters who have had the summer of will normally be walking for 6 weeks just to get tendons hardened and fitness going - and there are horses that will have been really fit before being let down.
 
I would strongly recommend you keep well out of it. Your friend sounds as if she is a sandwich short of a picnic if she has bought a horse to ride with that history. There is probably a very good reason why the horse has been used for breeding and not been ridden.
 
Agree with the poster above. Since this horse has not been ridden for so long, your friend should expect to have to reback her, just as you would a youngster. If she does not have the time nor the competence to do so walk away...

If the care of the horse deteriorates call a welfare organization? This does not sound like an individual with too much good judgment and experience - hopefully her general care for the horse is better than her idea of "rebacking".
 
She loves the horse, it's her first but she has been riding for a while. She rode my ex racer while I was re schooling her and bringing her into fitness, however my horse was very easy and is very quiet, plus someone trained had done the basics with her. I think my friend presums that every horse will be as easy and hasn't really thought about doing things slowly and carefully. She isn't that experienced so just needs to take all the advise she has been offered!
 
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