bringing mare back into work after having a foal?

[c7mlm]

my mare will be coming in this weekend as we are weaning the foal.
as this was my first foal i am not sure what is the best way to bring her back into work gradually.
i would be grateful for all you advice.etc

x

 

[CrazyMare]

Well I started lunging, then riding mine when foalie was about 3 months old! I also feed one in the stable and one in the field and they seem quite glad to be seperate so neither pinches the others feed!!!!

Foalie is 4 months old now and has a whale of a time in the menage while I ride, causing trouble and playing with things.

 

[magic104]

It really is no different to bringing any horse back into work after time off. The mare should have recovered from any foaling problems after 6 months, so just follow a normal fittening programme.

 

[JanetGeorge]

[ QUOTE ]
It really is no different to bringing any horse back into work after time off. The mare should have recovered from any foaling problems after 6 months, so just follow a normal fittening programme.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mmmmm ... I'd say you need to go a bit slower. It's 12 - 18 months off rather than the more usual couple of months - and a lot of strain on the back from carrying the weight of the foal through pregnancy. Bringing a hunter back after 4 months off I take 3 months - a mare from foaling I'd take closer to 5 months to full work (i.e. hunting) - basically doubling the time at each stage. So 4 weeks walking - building up to an hour - rather than 2 weeks. Another 4 weeks introducing short periods of trot - rather than 2 weeks, etc. etc.

 

[c7mlm]

thanks that is what we thought hopefully by xmas we should be near.