Getting a cob fit after 3months 'off'.

L&B

L&B

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 October 2012
Messages
417
Location
Cloud Cuckoo
Visit site
Hi all,
Looking for some advice - I have a 6yo gypsy cob who has been out of work for about 3months now (aside from the odd 15minute ridden walk out across our fields when they've been dry enough for the farmer to allow us). She has been turned out for a good 6-8hours per day though, in at night. Her history before me was just a happy hacker and she did some driving in her early days - so she isn't particularly well schooled.

She's been out of work more due to my own difficulties than hers. I lost the love of riding for a little spell...
I really struggle with SAD in winter and it's been the longest, wettest & most grey winter this year :( at the yard I am currently on my options are to hack on busy main roads or industrial estates. Most of the time, alone. No fun. I am however moving this weekend onto a very small private yard right by hundreds of trails that run on for literally miles & miles. I am actually looking forward to getting back in the saddle. This said, can anyone recommend a fitness regime for my girly and I? I'm hoping to get her out and about by midsummer covering miles but know she isn't ready yet... I have also booked onto a few pleasure/endurance rides late May onwards to have something to look forward to.

Thanks in advance for any tips :) please be kind...
 
I'd start by doing half an hour of walking, gradually building up the length of time over two or three weeks before you introduce a little trot work - again, building up over two or three weeks and then do the same with canter - assuming you are riding her virtually daily. She may just be fit enough for your pleasure / endurance rides in late May but you might be pushing it... depends how fat / fit she is at the mo...
 
No different to any other horse but all depends how fit you want her. Hacking is by far the best way of getting them fit; school work just doesn't cut it at least before you've done the basic 6 - 8 weeks.

Personally, I'd walk (march) for a month at least, gradually increasing the time (start with 30 - 45 mins increase to 90 mins if you can) then slowly introduce trot (up hill is best if you have them) walk 5 mins, trot 1 min to start; keep to 5 mins walk but increase the trot times over the next few days/weeks. Introduce short canters after 6 - 8 weeks; 1 a day for a week then add more after that.
Don't forget to only increase feed AFTER you have started increasing work not before; check on legs daily and make sure tack fits when she's either lost weight or muscled up.

Have fun, wish we had tracks around here.
 
In my opinion, if that's all you are looking to do then just jump on and ride.

Mine all live out and when turned out they can maintain a fair level of fitness that it suitable for hacking. I use a gps tracker every time I hack though so I can tell how my horses are coping with speed and distance if I am trying to build up to fun rides or in your case endurance rides. Even if you go on a shorter route try and get them moving a little quicker so its just as much work.

You will know how they feel and you might want to settle in yourself so im guessing you will probably start slow with half hour/hour and then build up, as you feel better so will the horse.

No traditional fitness plan will suit every horse and my hunter cob who is heavy just would not get fit starting with walk so we get on and just get trotting but then I know that and when she feels tired (read less fizzy) we walk and do some hill work.
 
Thanks tonnes for all of your suggestions.
I think what I'll do is the walk/trot type work for 30min to an hour each evening on the trails and aim for a little more on the weekends initially, then work upwards from there.
She would, if I asked; canter the entire way, but that's the danger with her. She's an incredibly giving mare and loves to be out and about so is fairly excitable, though with her fitness she gets out of steam fairly rapidly :)
I suppose it's a balance of listening to her, listening to my own self and treating her fairly... Not expecting too much too soon.
As for the pleasure/endurance rides May onwards, we can choose our speed and our milage. So even if we only cover 5miles for the first few (depending on how we go) I'm happy with that :)
 
As she's had plenty of turn out I think 30min walking for 7 days then short trots and increase to an hr for 14 days, then increase trot gradually. Hill work in marching walk will be excellent.
Most horses hold a basic fitness if they have only been out of work for a short time, if they have turnout. Plus urs has had a bit of hacking.
Id be doing longer trots by 4 weeks and starting cantering week 5.
 
Mines never been fit or in consistent work. Hes now on full livery and is worked with the hunt horses 4 days a week, and I toddle about twice a week. Hes been there 6 weeks ish, started in walk, then they slowly added some trotting which was built up, and this last week they have started some short canters with him. The difference in the way he looks and feels is amazing! Because hes such a midget and the hunt horses a big horses, even his intial walk work was done at a forward walk so hes always motoring.

I'd aim for similar, short hacks built up gradually, but making sure shes really walking on. I am beyond pleased with how mine is going and feeling, and its down to not going near a school and just lots and lots of active hacking :)
 
FrankieCob said:
even his intial walk work was done at a forward walk so hes always motoring.

I'd aim for similar, short hacks built up gradually, but making sure shes really walking on. I am beyond pleased with how mine is going and feeling, and its down to not going near a school and just lots and lots of active hacking :)
Click to expand...

It makes all the difference as you've found out!
 
Maesfen said:
It makes all the difference as you've found out!
Click to expand...

Absolutely! The difference in the way he looks and feels is dramatic! My little chubby kick along is now a forward and keen little horse. It does help that hes now 6yr old and has grown into himself a bit, but its predominantly due to the work hes getting :)
 
There's a useful article in the current edition of Horse and Rider magazine with a twelve week plan. I was in exactly the same situation two months ago and almost posted the same question as all the advice you see is for getting eventers fit but I just got on with what seemed a sensible gradual increase and was pleased when I found the magazine that I was pretty much at the stage it suggested for the number of weeks in .
 
Ooo thanks for this nugget of info! Will take a look in tesco this evening :) Glad to hear it's going well for you and your horse :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top