bringing horse back to work - lunging or alternatives?

[Polos Mum]

I'm 8 months pregnant so pretty limited in what I can do myself!

My boy (19 y/o, 17.1hh Irish mutt) has been off since November - he was fine over the winter (ex eventer so used to wintering off) but is now clearly bored and I'd like to start doing something so he's ready to ride when I am!

I took him for a 10 min walk in hand today - which was really nice for both of us although I struggled to walk at his speed! (I think he thought I was hanging on to him incase he was naughty when actually it was because I'm so unfit!)
I can build on this a bit but wondering what else I can do to start him back up again - any inspirational ideas?

I have a school and could lunge but I'm wondering if that's too much for an older boy that's been off for so long.
If I wasn't the size of a house I'd hop on an hack him out more and more but that's not practical!!

 

[nikicb]

To be honest, if I were you I would wait another couple of months until you're ready to get back on him or get someone else to ride if you feel he really needs to come back into work now. He's a biggish horse and not as young as he used to be and probably would benefit from some slower, less intensive work to start with. Good luck with your impending arrival!

 

[Polos Mum]

Thank you - I do honestly know that a few more months off is the right thing - he was just so pleased when I put his bridle on this afternoon.

I will pay someone to sit on him for a few days when we get that far - he's not straightforward and I will be very out of practice. But not sure it's worth it for 2 whole months. He's out 24/7 and does seem to keep his fitness pretty well, so I'm not worried about that.
I suspect on a nice sunny bank holiday I'm just missing time with him out and about!

 

[nikicb]

Thank you - I do honestly know that a few more months off is the right thing - he was just so pleased when I put his bridle on this afternoon.

I will pay someone to sit on him for a few days when we get that far - he's not straightforward and I will be very out of practice. But not sure it's worth it for 2 whole months. He's out 24/7 and does seem to keep his fitness pretty well, so I'm not worried about that.
I suspect on a nice sunny bank holiday I'm just missing time with him out and about!

I think that's wise and you will probably feel happier and less guilty once you make a positive decision about what he is going to do or not do as the case may be. I'm a busy mum and I've found that making a positive decision to give mine a long winter holiday rather than trying to keep them ticking over meant that I could look at them without feeling guilty I wasn't doing anything with them.