Forward planning

[Wimbles]

So It's been over three months since my accident and I've now thankfully been allowed to drive although still not able to put any real weight through the arm.

I've still got a way to go with my recovery but I can start to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Just wanting some input if possible as I plan my return.

Horses are pretty much turned away for the winter aside from friends taking them on a few random hacks.

I have my next set of X-rays booked in for Valentines Day so am using that date for a possible return to the saddle.

I plan to send my young horse away for schooling livery and hope to have my first ride in the form of a lesson there. I haven't got an almighty amount of money to send him there for months and months but don't really know how long would be beneficial for him to be there before I go and start getting on. Never sent a horse away for schooling before but Brian's special and young and I don't want my lack of confidence to hamper his progress so feel that this would be the best approach.

How long do people typically send their horses away for or is that a "how long is a piece of string" question?

 

[ihatework]

To get the most out of paying for schooling livery you really would be better off sending your horse with a reasonable level of fitness, otherwise you risk either paying decent £££ for the basic fittening work or having the horse to too much too quickly and getting sore.

So personally I'd factor in a months hacking from home, paying for people to ride if needs be, and then a month away on schooling livery

 

[PorkChop]

I wouldn't want to send a fairly unfit horse on schooling livery.

You will be paying a decent amount of money for them to basically get them fit, worst case scenario would be that they may overdo the schooling/fast work/jumping when your horse is not really truly fit.

I would start looking now for someone to start getting him fitter now. I would then plan to send him on schooling livery 3-4 weeks before you plan to start riding again.

Depends a bit on how old he is.

Hope the x-rays give you the go ahead to crack on

 

[Wimbles]

A really good point, which if I am honest, I hadn't really considered so thanks. I'm just not sure who I can get to ride him but maybe some of the uni students might be up for it. Will start my search! I'm hoping the new fields will give a good fitness boost too. 22 acres all on different levels. When we first put them in Brian ran round a few times and then was on his knees. I'm guessing a few weeks of walking up and down are going to do him the world of good!!

 

[PorkChop]

A really good point, which if I am honest, I hadn't really considered so thanks. I'm just not sure who I can get to ride him but maybe some of the uni students might be up for it. Will start my search! I'm hoping the new fields will give a good fitness boost too. 22 acres all on different levels. When we first put them in Brian ran round a few times and then was on his knees. I'm guessing a few weeks of walking up and down are going to do him the world of good!!

Definitely will help, I would aim to get him out hacking 5 days a week if at all possible. Young horses take a long time to get fitter compared to an older horse, rightly so that it should be done steadily.

 

[blackhor2e]

Do you know of anyone that can ride him to get him fitter before sending him off for schooling, you can pm me your location if you like as I'm often in Derbyshire riding for a few people I know.

 

[LynH]

I often have long periods of not riding because I have long term lung problems. I've tried most methods of getting my horses back into work/staying in work and found that it's often best not to have the horse too fit if I'm not. You may find that you could get someone to sit on him the first couple of times and then you can do the walk work/fittening work together. That way you won't be getting on an overly fresh and fit horse when you are easing yourself back into it. The way I do it with my sharper horse is to have my instructor come and sit on her first for 10 mins then I get on and do some walk work with her. Once I feel comfortable I build her up a bit before having lessons when we start to increase the workload. My instructor can then school her in between me warming up and cooling off.
It's definitely worth considering how you will get back into it alongside fittening your horse.