Fitness when we can’t ride/horses can’t leave the yard

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Charliest

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Hi Guys, I was wondering if you lovely folks could give me some opinions on this one. I have a horse I would really like to bring back into work after an 7 month lay off- but I’m on a yard that has banned horses leaving the yard, and banned riding at all given the current situation - I have time on my hands but this is going to be very different to my usual approach - hacking :).

back story on the horse, he’s a big Rangey 9 year old ex racer. He injured his knee in October, cut into the joint needing surgery and flushing. 4 weeks in the box and he bounced back. I felt at this point I would give him till after new year as a long lay off to cover for any issues. In January he went lame on the other foot. Xrays indicated a few balance issues and maybe the start of some arthritic changes. The coffin joint was injected and we started working on the balance, again another month of down time which I felt he needed to adjust to the wedge....then he came in with a nail in that foot. I could t believe it. That took a couple of weeks, then lock down started. And for the first time in a while I have a happy fit horse that is feeling the joys of spring. But now can’t ride or even walk out on the roads (not sure I would feel safe doing that anyway tbh).
What I can do is anything in a 20/40 school - I know not ideal. He does long line but in the past I have had to pop him on the lunge to get the top off the energy before long lining. I don’t want to pop him on the lunge. I am reasonably competent at laterals etc in hand - and he loves this. But again I’m not sure that’s something I want to throw him at given he’s not got any base. I could also work him in hand, which would do us both good tbh, but again walking round a school is probably not going to do much for him fitness wise.

Also worth noting he lives half in and half out, has been back in the field roughly 10 hours a day for the past

I’m wondering if it’s worth it. I’m bored and so is he so is he - has anyone been in a similar situation before?

sorry for the essay :) thank you in advance for any replies!!
 
Is he good over poles? There is a massive amount you can do in hand with poles (raised and flat) which would not be time wasted to build up his core strength before you get on board
 
Why on earth can't you hack or hand walk off the yard? There is no reason in terms of the lockdown rules that you shouldn't. Could you talk to your yard owner? Explain that school work isn't suitable for his rehab and ask if they will let you hand walk or hack off the yard.
 
Kat said:
Why on earth can't you hack or hand walk off the yard? There is no reason in terms of the lockdown rules that you shouldn't. Could you talk to your yard owner? Explain that school work isn't suitable for his rehab and ask if they will let you hand walk or hack off the yard.
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I know, trust me we have tried. The problem is the owner is in the high risk category, he lives on site so doesn’t want us there longer than necessary. Originally we weren’t allowed to use the school in any circumstances either, thankfully he relaxed on that one.
 
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Very tempting you sneak out at 6am ?.

the rule was written- no riding of horses in the school or hacking, and no horses are to leave the yard under any circumstances. Lots of wiggle room in that - I’m not brave enough to be the first one to test it ?
 
Kat said:
Why on earth can't you hack or hand walk off the yard? There is no reason in terms of the lockdown rules that you shouldn't. Could you talk to your yard owner? Explain that school work isn't suitable for his rehab and ask if they will let you hand walk or hack off the yard.
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^^^ I agree!!

There is no reason why anyone cannot ride THEIR OWN HORSE at the moment!!

There has not been any dictat that people cannot ride at the moment!

Think some YO's are pressing the panic button TBH.

FFS.
 
Personally, I'd be looking for a new yard as these rules seem crazy. I wouldn't appreciate someone telling me when I could or could not ride my own horse or that I couldn't move that horse off the yard either (what happens if you had to for vet reasons or something?). I totally get that we're under strange times right now but there is absolutely no government rules to say this so I wouldn't want to be dictated to in such a way personally. I'd find a new yard where I was allowed to ride and hack out.
 
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