renlikhs
New User
Hi,
I'm new to the forum (but not to horses!) and was just wondering if anybody had any experience with ridiculously sweaty draft horses!
I've been involved with drafts for a number of years and after a break of a couple of years (horsey bereavment!) at the start of July I rescued a 13y/o Belgian Draft mare. When I got her she was underweight with a number of superficial leg issues, in a former life she was obviously ridden and trained well although for an unknown number of years (at least 2) we believe she'd just been left in a field a rot.
Since I got her I've worked really hard to sort out the leg issues, sort out the hoof issues and get some weight on her, all of which myself and my partner have managed/are managing! She is now a healthy weight and at the beginning of last week we decided it was time to work on building a little bit of muscle, mainly for her benefit as she's of an age where mobility could be a problem imho.
I've worked out her ''fitness plan'' for want of a better term, and as we don't know her background and when she was last worked properly I decided to start from the very very basics and work slowly towards a nice level of fitness...I'm not talking fit enough to go on endurance rides lol just your bog standard happy hacker fitness.
At the moment, and for at least the next 2 weeks, we are doing 15-20 minutes of in hand active walking, incorporating 2 goes up a short incline (not back to back.)
The first time we did it after 15 minutes she was a sweaty mess...it was literally dripping off her haunches, shoulders and chest and foaming between the back legs. She was the same the 2nd time so the third time I thought I'd leave out the hill and just do 15-20 on the flat...same result...she's massively sweaty! I have never had a horse that sweats this much, even after 3 hour hacks or an intense schooling session!!
At the same time as bringing her into work, we are also bringing my unfit, fat new forest into work. He's had a year off since I got him back from his loan home as I found out by chance that he was being used as a riding school pony. He is doing the exact same amount of work as my draft horse but ridden, he's overweight, yet there isn't a spot of sweat on him. I just don't get it!
I am probably worrying about nothing where the draft is concerned as I am rather prone to being a worrier since I rather traumatically (and through no fault of my own, I hasten to add) lost my previous draft!
Any input would be great and thanks for reading.
I'm new to the forum (but not to horses!) and was just wondering if anybody had any experience with ridiculously sweaty draft horses!
I've been involved with drafts for a number of years and after a break of a couple of years (horsey bereavment!) at the start of July I rescued a 13y/o Belgian Draft mare. When I got her she was underweight with a number of superficial leg issues, in a former life she was obviously ridden and trained well although for an unknown number of years (at least 2) we believe she'd just been left in a field a rot.
Since I got her I've worked really hard to sort out the leg issues, sort out the hoof issues and get some weight on her, all of which myself and my partner have managed/are managing! She is now a healthy weight and at the beginning of last week we decided it was time to work on building a little bit of muscle, mainly for her benefit as she's of an age where mobility could be a problem imho.
I've worked out her ''fitness plan'' for want of a better term, and as we don't know her background and when she was last worked properly I decided to start from the very very basics and work slowly towards a nice level of fitness...I'm not talking fit enough to go on endurance rides lol just your bog standard happy hacker fitness.
At the moment, and for at least the next 2 weeks, we are doing 15-20 minutes of in hand active walking, incorporating 2 goes up a short incline (not back to back.)
The first time we did it after 15 minutes she was a sweaty mess...it was literally dripping off her haunches, shoulders and chest and foaming between the back legs. She was the same the 2nd time so the third time I thought I'd leave out the hill and just do 15-20 on the flat...same result...she's massively sweaty! I have never had a horse that sweats this much, even after 3 hour hacks or an intense schooling session!!
At the same time as bringing her into work, we are also bringing my unfit, fat new forest into work. He's had a year off since I got him back from his loan home as I found out by chance that he was being used as a riding school pony. He is doing the exact same amount of work as my draft horse but ridden, he's overweight, yet there isn't a spot of sweat on him. I just don't get it!
I am probably worrying about nothing where the draft is concerned as I am rather prone to being a worrier since I rather traumatically (and through no fault of my own, I hasten to add) lost my previous draft!
Any input would be great and thanks for reading.
