Can't ride but need to work horse

T

Twiglet

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Equine Twiglet has had some saddle 'issues' (or should we say 'saddler' issues), resulting in muscle spasms over his back, and a pretty sore pony. Back is now sorted, but he can't be ridden until the saddle is fixed - due to my experience I am very reluctant to use just any saddler, so am waiting nearly three weeks for my preferred supplier to come out.
In the meantime, he needs to be back in work - to strengthen the muscles, and to stop him stiffening up.

So ideas for non-ridden work please?
He's ok with lunging - although I HATE doing it - and long reining, albeit probably too sharp to hack this way.
Should I be using side reins to lunge in?
How long a day should I be starting lunging for (bear in mind although he's ridden pretty regularly, he's not been lunged in aaaages).
He's 19, has some arthritic stiffness, but is pretty sound and healthy - fit for his low-medium workload.

I have a pessoa but have used it once - far too complicated for my liking. Is it worth dusting it off?

Any ideas appreciated
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Hmm. I would seek prof. advise as to whether it is actually best to bring him back into work now, and if so, the pessoa would be fantastic. Make sure you have several lessons with someone very experienced in using and fitting it, but am sure although initially it appears complicated, you and your gg will reap the rewards of the initial scepticism. Good luck!
 
I thought about bareback - am just hesitant because his back is weaker at the moment due to the saddle problems, and I wouldn't want to put extra strain on it by bareback work.
He's been off work for the last two weeks too....

Maybe I could try bareback after bringing him back through lunging too?
 
i would do free schooling
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or just take him for a walk inhand and do a bit of trotting? not much work for him, but keeps his legs moving.
how about driving? i would love to try that!
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Do you have access to another horse so you could ride and lead? Otherwise lunging is probably the way. Can you make it more fun with some loose lunging and loose jumping? To strengthen backs, walking on a loose rein up hills and over raised trotting poles is good.
 
If you can find anywhere near you that has a pool, swimming is fantastic (big racing yards have them, but not all will let people come and use them) and completely no weight-bearing so great for maintaining fitness through an injury.
I personally wouldn't use lunging as a regular maintenance exercise, but if forced too would use as good a surface as possible (shallow/even) and as big a circle as poss too.
 
If I were you I would lunge him with nothing he will relax more and stretch down and start carrying himself.... you could work on transitions...some trotting poles...! lots of ground work especially if he had a sore back id avoid riding him until your saddle is sorted!
 
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