Horse coming back in to work?

[My_chestnut_mare]

HI there my cob has been off work for the past 3 or 4 months.

Iam wanting to bring him back in to work and not sure how to/the right way to go about it.

I had him tied up and had a wee sit on his back and he kinda skiped with his back legs cant really call it a buck.

I have been sitting my 3 year old daughter on him when he is in for a groom.

Does anyone have suggestions?

He is 16 year old by the way

 

[Booboos]

Are you looking for a fitenning schedule or are you worried he will be very naughty?

In terms of fitness you should start with a month or so of walking, increasing the amount gradually, then introduce trotting for a few more weeks and then move to cantering and schooling.

If you are worried he will be very naughty you may have to take him in the school and walk him around for a few days until he chills out, or hack with a friend on a sensible horse. If he is totally loopy you may have to lunge him before you get on or ACP him.

Don't take this the wrong way but putting a three year old on a horse is not a good idea at the best of times and certainly not when you are worried about how he will react.

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

sorry i maybe didnt explain myself he is a happy hacker 100% bomproom.

And as for my 3 year old sitting on him i OBVIOUSLY dont leave her its a case of me holding her on for a SIT.

Not sure i f you have kids but they do ask for a wee sit on sometime which i do not see a problem he is only 13.3h.

What does ACP mean?

Thank you it was a case of both really.

Can i just ask how long i should start off?

 

[Ranyhyn]

8-10 weeks
2 weeks walking
2 weeks intro. trot
2 weeks intro. canter
2 weeks contingency for injuries and setbacks etc

If you sat on him and he bucked you may want to get his teeth and back checked before you start work, thats just good practise really.

 

[Booboos]

ACP is a sedative you can get from your vet, it works really well with some horses as it takes the edge off and they are less likely to spook/play up (doesn't work with all horses, esp if they are stressed out already when they take it).

No I don't have kids and I am sure they ask for a lot of things. I just don't think it sounds very safe to sit a 3 year old on a horse that's out of work and playing up. But your kid, your horse...

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

he has had his 6 monthly teeth check .

got back man coming soon.

I think he has just got set in to not being ridden.

will do your list and see how we get on.

he isn't a problem horse and is soooooo laid back it is unreal takes everything in his stride.

thank you for advice.

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

Oh me they do lol

He wasnt playing up he is a very laid back horse just been out of work for a few months.

sorry just one more question.

would i limit him to like maybe 10 to 20 mins the first time?

sorry to ask so much questions.

 

[Booboos]

I would imagine 20 minutes of walking would be fine and probably better than 10 as it would give him a job to do. With 10 you would have to turn round pretty much as soon as you got on and that might wind him up. If he has been out in a field he will have kept himself fairly fit and unless he has a medical problem I would go for 30 -45 minutes walking to start off with.