Bringing back into work after a break

[sjdress]

I am bringing my horse back into work after 7weeks off. This was just a winter break, not time off due to injury etc. horse has been living out 24/7 during this time. What would be a suitable program for bringing back into work?
I was thinking A couple of weeks walking, starting with 20 mins and then build this up and start adding some trot at week 4. Is this being too careful, could I crack on a bit quicker or does this seem sensible?
I was thinking 6 weeks before any arena work.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think when they have been living out they keep a degree of fitness so I would maybe walk for a few days then just crack on, after a box rest stint I would definitely walk for weeks then rather than days, as muscles have literally done nothing and it's often for an injury rehab so it has to be more gradual.

 

[sportsmansB]

I think you could crack on a bit faster with the hacking, but I agree 6 weeks before arena work is ideal
Unless your horse has lost masses of topline / condition (depending on age etc too) - if it s a mature horse of 7-8+ and has been living out I don't see why you couldn't walk for 40 mins from the beginning. A baby or one with a particularly weak back or poor back end might be different. If all seems fine and horse is happy you couold start troting from week 2-3 for short periods, as long as you are doing 4-5 days a week before that.
Its a bit like starting a couch to 5k - not everyone needs to start at the same place depending on their underlying levels of fitness, but everyone needs to warm up and cool down properly and build up accordingly to faster work