Cates123
Well-Known Member
Morning everyone,
I'm 3 weeks in with my new horse and he's proving pretty uncomplicated and very sweet. Sometimes a little energised and still getting used to so much turnout (he's out all day but in at night) but there's nothing nasty about him at all - what a relief! My question is, how much work should he be doing? He is good in the school and has a natural head carriage and fab movement but he does get bored which can lead to (gentle) napping, so we're keeping this short and easy. We probably do 2x schooling session / 2x hacks / 1 groundwork - (sometimes a short school + short hack session) currently trying lunging and long reining but this is not my strength so may do more in hand and add poles into the mix. No transport yet but the plan is to get out and do a lot of hacking in new places as the roads around me aren't great which limits where/when I go as there's no one to hack out with - he's at home and there are only small kids with ponies here (which is too risky should anything go awry). Thankfully he's great alone but I don't want to push my luck! I thought this was a fair balance of work but my physio (for the horse) suggested 4 days a week and more ground work. He's a bit weak but not bad for an ex-racer and is pretty solid for a TB but he's only just 4 and currently 16.2h so I'm mindful that he's not grown into himself. I've no immediate aspirations for him, other than him to be a fab, calm and fun horse in all situations haha!! No thoughts on jumping this year, other than perhaps a log on a farm ride. My concern is that less work will mean more 'excitable' rides when I do get on.....
Any recommendations / exercise plans to keep baby brains interested? I'm also planning ahead as I'm sure we'll have to do more in the arena over winter as weather/lack of light means less opportunity to hack.
Thanks!
I'm 3 weeks in with my new horse and he's proving pretty uncomplicated and very sweet. Sometimes a little energised and still getting used to so much turnout (he's out all day but in at night) but there's nothing nasty about him at all - what a relief! My question is, how much work should he be doing? He is good in the school and has a natural head carriage and fab movement but he does get bored which can lead to (gentle) napping, so we're keeping this short and easy. We probably do 2x schooling session / 2x hacks / 1 groundwork - (sometimes a short school + short hack session) currently trying lunging and long reining but this is not my strength so may do more in hand and add poles into the mix. No transport yet but the plan is to get out and do a lot of hacking in new places as the roads around me aren't great which limits where/when I go as there's no one to hack out with - he's at home and there are only small kids with ponies here (which is too risky should anything go awry). Thankfully he's great alone but I don't want to push my luck! I thought this was a fair balance of work but my physio (for the horse) suggested 4 days a week and more ground work. He's a bit weak but not bad for an ex-racer and is pretty solid for a TB but he's only just 4 and currently 16.2h so I'm mindful that he's not grown into himself. I've no immediate aspirations for him, other than him to be a fab, calm and fun horse in all situations haha!! No thoughts on jumping this year, other than perhaps a log on a farm ride. My concern is that less work will mean more 'excitable' rides when I do get on.....
Any recommendations / exercise plans to keep baby brains interested? I'm also planning ahead as I'm sure we'll have to do more in the arena over winter as weather/lack of light means less opportunity to hack.
Thanks!
