Fittening a rising 6 year old.

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showqa

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I'd really like your opinions on this please.

My horse had a month off and was queried as being unlevel by a RI. Anyway, two vets have given him the all clear and so now he's back in work.

He's not even 6 yet so I'm taking him back to basics as he's had a bit of a month frankly. Hence, I'm just hacking him for 6 weeks, 6 days a week, for 1.5 - 2 hours a time, and where I live it's serious hill work (North Wales). It's mostly walk (trying to get him to stretch down but he is a bit of a tourist!), trot and some canter where the track permits. Is this sufficient to get him reasonably fit? He's out on the grass for half of the day, yarded the other half with hay, but has no hard feed as he's a bit rounder than I'd like. I'm aiming for lower level dressage, fun rides and stepping up his schooling mid summer time. Any views would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Sounds like more than enough to me, my cob gets hacked (serious hill work) 5 days a week for approx 1 hour he is stabled mostly with half days in a not so grassy field. He is much fitter now than he was being schooled 4 times a week
 
That sounds like a lot of work for a 5 year old to me, especially as it is serious hill work. I would add an extra day off or make one or two of the hacks a bit shorter, myself.
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Do you think so? I did wonder whether it was a bit too much - hence why I asked. I'm just a bit concerned about him putting on the weight, and don't feel that I can reduce his turn out anymore really as he's already been chewing the fences when he's yarded. So maybe if I reduce the time to an hour for a few hacks, but still take him out 6 days?
 
If he were mine I would be looking to hack 5 times a week for between 1 and 2 hours depending on heat etc max.
I too would increase turnout to 24 hr if poss and get rid of all hay. If necessary put a grazing muzzle on him.
 
He won't tolerate a muzzle - he goes spare.

Can I ask why you'd increase his turnout rather than yard him with hay for half the day? Because of the boredom risk? But how would I keep his weight down as he's already working as much as possible for his age/fitness levels?
 
I would turn him out in a starvation paddock if you would like to see him shed some pounds. I would turn him out because I actually believe that walking round a field all day helps them loose weight better than just standing still in a stable eating hay. And at the end of the day a horse is a horse - they were designed to be out all day and problems like stable vices (stemming from boredom as you say) arise from unnatural situations.
 
Oh sorry I wasn't very clear. He's yarded for half the day - basically an area about 60 x 40 with a barn and hay - and his pony pal. He doesn't go into a stable.
 
No actually I haven't been soaking it. I was a bit worried that nutritionally I'd be depleting it - in light of my horse's age. How can ai gaurantee he's getting sufficient minerals/vits, as he's not on 24 hour grass? Do you think I should give hima low cal balancer or can we assume that decent quality grass for half the day is a whole food in itself? Thanks by the way.
 
No problem - Am bored and love helping people out.
My boy is just on grass at the moment and he is fab. Half a days grass and soaked hay should be fine - perhaps give him access to a mineral and salt block when he is yarded if you are worried about it?
 
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