Exercising a mini

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sonjafoers

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I moved yards today and as it was only half a mile up the road I led my mini from one of my riding horses rather than walk him up in hand. He did really well the dear little chap and kept up all the way.

As he was so good I'm thinking I might ride & lead him a bit more often to give him some exercise and a change from being lead out in hand.

If anyone else does this can you give me an idea of how much to do please? I'll start off with just ten minutes I think and build up his fitness but how much can minis do?

I also need to bear in mind he's barefoot so I don't want him to wear his feet down with too much roadwork.
 
I have been doing this with mine walking about 1/2 mile daily but the little ****** puts his heels in and wont take another step if he sees some grass. So he is resigned to only exercising in the arena.
 
don't know if you'll be able to view this, but this is one of mine having a blast lunging and jumping
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video link doesn't work
 
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I have never managed to find the off switch on mine.... He hacks out with a rider for 2 hours plus trotting most of the time to keep up with a 13.1. In fact he can trot as fast as she canters and she, with a proper welsh cob trot, cannot out trot him either! He's like a machine :D. Assuming yours has decent conformation and is not very young or very old, then it will be no different to any other horse.
 
Shame the link doesn't work Rhodders I would have loved to have seen it!

I was surprised by how well he did yesterday and then when they all got into their new field he was the only one to gallop around so it couldn't have worn him out too much.

From what you say FW it sounds like they have a bit more go than I thought so it's given me the incentive to get him out & about a bit more - thank you :)

putasocinit your post did make me laugh, if mine does the same I'll leave him there and pick him up on the way back ;)
 
I started putting my mini on the horse walker. I was very surprised that after 30mins of fast work he didn't even break a sweat. The little **** spends all day scurrying around the field terrorising the horses so he's actually quite fit
 
A few examples from YouTube, the first one is with Shelands, the rest Mini Shetlands:

[youtube]klftQa1aTc4[/youtube]

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[youtube]QgT4B5Cd1vY[/youtube]

[youtube]8KuRpTDWFvs[/youtube]
 
And provided you build up the road work, as you would and unfit horse, the "unfit" bare hooves will build up and grow to match the exercise. Hooves don't "wear out" like shoes if you just give them a bit of time to adjust;)
 
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The video link works for me Rhodders :). What a clever little mini jumping pony, you can hear that he/she touches the pole the first time, but not the other times.


But I must say, that it looks like you were getting some exercise too, I thought the human were supposed to stand more or less on the same spot, instead it sometimes looks like the "star super pony" is about to drag you away from the camera? :eek: :)
 
sonjafoers said:
I moved yards today and as it was only half a mile up the road I led my mini from one of my riding horses rather than walk him up in hand. He did really well the dear little chap and kept up all the way.

As he was so good I'm thinking I might ride & lead him a bit more often to give him some exercise and a change from being lead out in hand.

If anyone else does this can you give me an idea of how much to do please? I'll start off with just ten minutes I think and build up his fitness but how much can minis do?

I also need to bear in mind he's barefoot so I don't want him to wear his feet down with too much roadwork.
Click to expand...


I have ridden and lead all mine. I go out every friday with them for about 1 hr

1- 1 1/2 is the most I will do .
 
I used to ride and lead my shettie off a 15.3 appaloosa. It improved his stride so much and the judges were amazed when we then showed him as he could stride out with the big boys. it meant i could keep him fit for my niece to then hunt on the weekends. I started slowly but in the end he could stay out with me as long as i did on the appy. Just be careful if there are electric fences on your hacks as i had a slight hiccup when opening a gate and the shettie sniffed the fence, got a shock, took off and took me with him, out the side gate !!!
 
Thank you everyone, especially for the videos etc - yes Rhodders yours worked and was very impressive so I think I might be building some mini jumps too :)

It sounds like it does seem realistic so I'll start taking him out with me and see how he goes.
 
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