Fittening programme

The no hacking is a pain because lots and lots of walking should be the foundation of any fittening programme. Can you box to a hill to do hillwork? Do you have any fields that you can walk around the edge of?
 
We have grass fuels on hill I can use here, I just can't hack out properly as no one to go with and I don't know what he's like alone yet,
 
I am lunging my 4 year old in a passoa, he had time off as he was sore from growing. He is now starting work and slowly building up the muscles he needs as a showjumper in this way. My physio told me. He started walking in it and is now doing 10min in total. It will build up over the next 8 weeks till my schools built and he will start ridden work
 
Age? Type? Any previous medical problems? How fit has he been before? How is his weight? What are your aims for him - bit different between an eventer and a general pleasure horse for instance? Is 'it' turned out, or stabled?

Very difficult to advise on a fitness programme for a horse you know nothing about.
 
7 tb been off since dec when he did his tendon I believe, good condition, been in field for 2 months, has been obviously racing fit, would like him fit enough to jump a few courses and xc dressage comps etc!
 
Beans2000 said:
7 tb been off since dec when he did his tendon I believe, good condition, been in field for 2 months, has been obviously racing fit, would like him fit enough to jump a few courses and xc dressage comps etc!
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Great, it always helps if they've been fit before, and turnout makes such a difference to natural fitness levels IMO :) Regarding his injury, do you know how bad it was and what the treatment was? Anything bar very minor injuries can take 12 - 18 months to 'full' healing (although obviously are very unlikely to return to pre-injury integrity).

With tendon injuries, you really can't afford to short cut the first stages of a fitness programme - which really should be walk work in straight lines; really difficult without hacking. Even walking around the perimeter of the field will help, if you can do that daily and build up from 15 minutes to an hour plus it will lay down the foundations of his fitness. Check for any swelling or heat immediately after exercise too.

I would be loathe to lunge until you had done a fair few weeks walk work, and even then please be ultra careful with the surface, and make the circles as big as possible etc.

Personally I'd do an absolute minimum of 4 - 6 weeks walk only, then begin to introduce trot and canter on straight lines, and very short schooling sessions. Even hacking/riding in the field you can make your horse 'work' though; no slopping around on loose reins :p This may seem ultra conservative, but I have seen too many horses rushed through rehabilitation of tendon injuries who have done too much, too quickly.

I don't think it will be a quick process with this horse, but fingers you get there! :)
 
Thanks rhino! I have just given him day on walker and then he had a really brief jog in school today to see how saddle is etc! I will ask boyfriend to come on foot and see how he is on hacks! Would be ok if I could find someone to come out on my other tb with me but no offers! :p

His tendon injury wasn't that bad he had box rest then turnout they just didn't want to risk him in full training again.
 
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