Bringing horse slowly back into work!

[welshcobmad]

How would you go about it, how many sessions a week? How many weeks to keep in walk only? Should I just hack out for the time being or include some schooling?

He's a 7yr old Welsh D who's had around 4 months or so off due to a respiratory infection. Not fat due to having spent the time on a fatty paddock as he puts weight on from fresh air & esp as he hasn't been worked.

Thankyou!

 

[be positive]

I would walk only for about 3 weeks ,as often as possible,gradually increasing the time,if you can build up to 1 hour and include some hills,I would be in no rush to start trotting or schooling[maybe just walking in a school if short of time] .
If he has had a problem with his respiratory tract be careful to increase work slowly so that it is not stressed as this can lead to damage and problems in the future.

 

[AmyMay]

I would walk every day for 4 weeks, before building up to any trot work - and personally would only do this on the roads. Once you've introduced some trot work in weeks 5 and 6 I would then think about some light schooling work.

I would be aiming to ride at least 5 days - building up from 30 mins to an hour by the end of week 2.