Bringing back to work after time off

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LadyClaire

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My horse Tilly had an operation back in October to have a benign tumour (keratoma) removed from her hoof. She had 9 weeks of box rest after the op, followed by short walks in hand, then half days turnout eventually leading to about 8 hours a day turnout.

She started being intermittently lame in July last year so really, she hasn't done much at all since then while the vets tried to find out what was wrong. All her muscle and fitness is obviously gone, even the half days of turnout seemed exhausting for her to start with after the box rest.

I got the green light from the vet last week to start bringing her into work. So far I've taken her for a couple of short hacks in walk, only about 10-15 minutes and avoiding any hills!

Could anyone please give me advice on how I can build up her fitness, maybe like a plan of how much we can work towards each week? I don't want to push her too much but on the other hand I don't want to molly-coddle her too much either! Thanks!
 
I had to bring mine back into work after 9 months off having a baby, then a further 4 months off with tenosynovitis when she was on box rest.

She was allowed to walk in hand, starting at 5 mins x 2 per day, building up unitl 40 mins x 2 per day (Dad and I had rock solid legs!!!).

When I got back on I only did 10 mins per time for the first few days as obviously she had gotten fitter through the walking but hadn't been weight carrying. This built up by 5 mins per week, until at 20mins I started adding in trot, then canter.

I probably took her very slowly as she was 16/17 at the time and my baby. I also took her places where I knew she wouldn't go mad - like out on the roads, rather than in fields or the arena to start.
 
I think if you continue like you are, I take it she is safe out on the roads, otherwise 15 mins a day in the school, by week 2, increase the period to about 20mins, a day. I wouldnt do more than that until week 3 , when I would walk her for 30 mins and if all is going well, introduce a few minutes of trott, by the end of week 3. Just 5 minutes in all.
By week 4 increase the trott work,by a couple of minintes a day, and aim for 15 mins walk and 15 mins trott by end of week.
Week 5 , do 10 mins walk and 2o mins trotting
Week 6, do 10 mins walk and then aim for trotting and introducing canter, thats how I brought my broodmare into work, as a rough guide, although it took me slightly longer as there were 2 weeks of snow when I couldnt ride her.
Good luck
 
a regular fitness regime would be in order. build work up by 30 mins per week (extra 5 mins a day) increase turnout and ridden work. use a walker. keep work varied. hack, school lunge walker. ideally 6 days out of 7. pavement pounding six weeks walk and trot is always a good start. lots of turnout always good for mucles and brain.!
 
wouldn't pavement pound as it really just increases repetitive stresses to the bones and joints. Recent research indicates that the same results can be obtained by just working on roads in walk.
 
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