**getting fit again after winter?**

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el_Snowflakes

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Hi all,

not that winter is over, but now that the snow has thawed (for now anyway) what are you doing with your horses to regain fitness and how often? our horses had 2-3 months off (including alot of the time spent stuck in stables when weather was at its worst) due to the snow and ice....
 
I was lucky in that mine was out 24/7 so kept herself to a relative fitness.
I've spent the past 4 weeks (ish) doing long slow hacks. We've built this up to 2-3 hacks a week and 2-3 x schooling.
We're walking/trotting and now introducing canter. TBH, I play it by ear and see how it goes with her. I'm now competing etc so nothing to be ready for although I am considering getting her fit enough to hack to local show grounds.
 
Am just starting one of mine again following 3 months off.

have spent last 2 weeks hand-walking on roads and tracks with tack, boots, quarter sheets on to condition her legs (and me!!). Personally I think it's worth taking the time to do this as it gets everyone back in the 'work' frame of mind as well as starting on the fitness in a low-key way ready to build up.
will now be doing a traditional 6 week programme - 2 weeks walk under saddle increasing distance, followed by 2 weeks walk and trot, followed by 2 weeks re-introducing canter and schooling. We have lots of hills so they have to do hillwork from day 1!
 
I have just done walk and trot started introducing center after about a week, really just waited until the ground was canterable Taz was relatively fit before the snow came and I don't feel that with six weeks off that he has lost a lot of fitness got fat yes lol
 
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