condition of horsey and some exercises to build up muscle..

[kombikids]

can someone tell me if my horsey is the right weight? im rubbish at knowing!hes 16.3hh and has been out of work for 2.5 months (apart from occasional hack)due to dislocating my neck and then him getting kicked. He got very stressed at a new yard and i couldnt keep weight on him so have moved back to old yard now - should i keep him the weight he is? I am aware there is no muscle (he doesnt have the best conformation either!) - what exercises can i do to help his goose rump and the rest of him? our school is a wet mud puddle so need to be hacking based?

hes fed top spec comp balancer, top spec condition cubes alfa a oiland sugar beet

thanks

not a great pic but is so dark today!

 

[Ziggy_]

Well, weight looks spot on to me

Hacking is meant to be the best way to build muscle, masses of slow hill work, long and low/ on a fairly long rein if you can.

 

[BigRed]

Blimey, he's getting a hugely calorific diet, so he ought to put weight on. It must be costing you a lot of money too. It's not a great photo, but he doesn't look skinny, he just has a weak neck. There is nothing wrong with hacking to get muscles to build up, just try to ride him into a contact rather then letting him slop along, and if you have hills, use them because they will improve his top line.

 

[kombikids]

yep its does cost me a fortune but i have been struggling to keep weight on and that lot seems to work! any other suggestions most welcome!

 

[tikino]

I dont think he is skinny i think his weight is spot on. The trouble is that there are so many horses out and about that are fat and therefore people see a horse in spot on condition as being skinny.

as for exercises you could do some flexing exercises with carrots while he is in the stable. This will get him nice and flexable. what you do is use a carrot and get him to bend as far as he can to the left give him the carrot then do it to the right then nake him put his head between his legs for a bit of carrot.

while out hacking get him to work in an outline and get him to come of your leg doing lateral movement like leg yeilding, shoulder in etc but only on quite roads or contrry lanes while you are in a safe enviroment