Help with horse fitness?

[SeasonalSituation]

Right I am terribly rusty on this sort of thing and although get the basics of it really, I am struggling to really sort out a fitness plan to get the ol' horse back into a reasonable shape.

Basically he's coming from nothing here, we've had about 4 months off (with maybe a few walks in there - and then injured again!!). So we've had a few weeks (touch wood!) with no injuries and he's seeming happy in himself. So i NEED to start making him fitter again, especially over winter as there are a few low ended comps we are looking at entering.

So how do I start?

Stats on the horse as well:
13 years old
TB
Ex-Racehorse

Anything else?

Thanks for any help, if I could pay you in money I would, but I can't so I shall pay in bacon toasties (all I can cook!)

 

[jaquelin]

All I can suggest is what the vet had me do when bringing my horse off box rest - spend the first month in walk and trot only; a week or two of walk only starting with short sessions, say 15-20 min working up to 30-40 min. Next two weeks add trot into the sessions but start with short intervals of trot and slowly increase until you are doing half walk and half trot.

Second month increase the time spent so that you are working up to an hour; start adding in brief canter sessions by the second half of second month, and then increase amount of canter. If all goes well - no lameness, etc, your horse will then be at a basic level of fitness and you can go from their in adding in specific work depending on your discipline. The key thing is to bring them back in to work slowly, but consistently - little and often at first. Good luck!

 

[Foxhunter49]

As he has had a few weeks without trying to commit suicide, I would , if you have been working him during this time, continue with walk/trot work. If you are just staring him off walk for the first week. 45 - 60 minutes for the first week and gradually introduce the trot.

What I do when bringing the horses up from grass and start trotting them is to trot them until they are a bit puffed and then walk when breathing is normal trot again. (This is on the roads and tracks)

Basically my fitness runs along the lines when they are fit (ish)

Monday - road work, walk and trot 11/2 = 2 hrs.
Tuesday - Bridleways, trot and canter
Wednesday - As Tuesday but as they are getting really fit they will get some faster canters
Thursday - Easy day, road walk and slow trotting
Friday - As Tuesday
Saturday - As Wednesday

My horses are hunting at least once or twice a week and they do get turned out whilst the ground is good after work. Some days I will work them in the school instead of riding out.