Exercise??

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Sophie123

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I will be looking after (doing all the exercising) for a 15yr TB, the horse in question hasnt done much over winter (one day hacking for around 1 hour a week, if that). Before that was being schooled once or twice a week for around 45 mins and hacking out on a weekend.

I am wanting some advice on how much exercise i should be doing with the horse? i was thinking on 1 hour on a saturday and sunday, and at the moment there isnt a school but should be moving to a yard that has one soon, so would have the use of that on an evening. I would build the workload up slowly but would just like some ideas of how much exercise per week i should be doing to bring the horse upto good fitness??? advice appreciated.
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My ned has been on a rehab programme after injury and i sent him to a full livery yard who brought him back into work.

They do 6 days per week starting with walking for 4 weeks - starting on the walker (increasing time every week), then introduced trot for a further 4 weeks and then the canter gradually after that.

I would be careful in using the school too much initially as the ned will need to be built up before asking him to work in a small area. Start with slow hacking first - differing terrains and gradients will also help strengthen muscles etc. I would be especially careful with a TB of his age too.

Good luck - and ask a trainer to give you a hand if you need it!
 
thanks, i will be taking it slow! there are loads of hills here so thats not a problem! i wont rush him and take things at his pace out hacking.

I was thinking of half an hour 4 times a week in the school, walking and trotting. When we have light on an evening i will be doing more hacking than schooling as he gets bored.
 
How much turn out has the horse had? I woudl say if they've been getting regular good turnout and being hacked once a week then they probably aren't as unfit as you think.

Take it slowly as said above, but you might be surprised, esp as its a teenager TB, they can be quite jolly
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Well thats the thing and the reason he will be moving yards, he hasnt been allowed out since before Christmas, he is one miserable horsey as he doesnt like being cooped up(as is the case with mose horses!) so he hasnt been getting the exercise he should be getting. He has been allowed to play in the field a couple of time this week, but not for long.

So i was thinking of leaving the schooling for the first week (when he has moved yards), just letting him play out during the day, then light hacking on a sat and a sunday!

does that sound ok?!

thanks
 
Yep, I would tunr him out as much as possible, might also make him less likely tobe lively if he's that way inclined too. I wouldn't worry about schooling too much, I would think after being cooped up in a stable he'll want to see as much of the world as possible. You could always school on hacks a little too
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