Horse Walker's - Pro or No??

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Barney&Buzz

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For the first time ever, I'm on a yard with a horse walker. My little 4yo mare needs to build muscle and strength so I've been alternating between, lunging, long reining and using the walker. Some people love the walker and use it, other don't and say its bad for horses. What's your oppinion??
 
I think it all depends on how big the walker is and what the surface consists of. My ideal would be one of the big rectangular walkers that the racers have with a rubber brick surface; my nightmare walker (espec for a 4 year old) would be a small four horse walker with a concrete surface......too tight a turn consistantly on a hard surface.
 
I have a walker at work and where i keep daughters pony.
Personally i dont think they should be used instead of exercise unless walking after an injury or if the horse has a period of time off and needs some walking to fitten up.
I think there usefull for warming up cooling down horses.
If horses are in at work for whatever reason they get put on while were mucking out instead of been stood tied up. Also one of the oldies goes on for 1/2 hour before exercise to loosen up. Or if weve got a sharp horse they go on for 1/2 hour before been ridden.
Dont really put daughters pony on again unless shes in for what ever reason and shell go on for 20 minutes in the morning, but daughter will still ride evening time.
 
Our walker has room for 8 horses and has thick rubber matting as flooring. She goes on for 15 mintues twice a week and is really doing her good at the moe.
 
Batgirl said:
Couldn't live without it in the winter.
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Just to clarify I don't use to replace exercise in the winter but as they come in earlier etc it is a godsend for warming them up, giving them a leg stretch in the afternoon before liveries come up to ride (i.e me)

Ours is 5 partitions on rubber matting.
 
my friends horse had a nasty accident in the one at our old yard and ended up being pts and then winched out... so i dont like them anymore but i have seen them used without a problem i just wouldnt use them and tbh im not really sure how much muscle they can really provide might as well ride..
 
I like them, as said above useful in the winter and if it snows it gives them a leg stretch while your mucking out etc. As long as they arent used to replace exercise and horses are only on them for relatively short time periods i think they have there place :)
 
Havn't had a lot of experience with them (would love to have one, 'tho!), but it would seem to be better to put a stabled horse on the walker for 20 - 30 mins than to leave it standing in all day. Not a substitute for turnout or work, 'tho.
 
Hate them. Soul destroying things.

Always think of that stupid person who forgot the horse on the walker and left it on all night :mad:
 
My pony has been on the walker loads at the rehab yard as he is recovering from injury and going on the big walker has been recommended by the vet. It is a big 10 horse walker though and is on a good sand surface. It enables my pony to walk at a consistant speed for decent amount of time without some poor person having to walk him in hand and possibly be dragged about. It is not always easy to walk a horse in hand for 40 minutes twice a day at a consistant speed when they are on box rest.

All the horses in rehab that are on the walker have been recommended to go on it by the vet so I think the vet would not recommend it if it was not good for them. My vet is very pro the walker and my pony is still on it twice a day at the moment under the recommendation of the vet even though he is getting some turnout and I am starting to ride him again. It has also meant that now I can ride him he can come back into work and do a bit of trot, having done most of the walking stage on the walker.
 
Hate them with a vengeance although I can see how useful they are to warm up/cool down if going to school but they are the very worst thing for hunters and pointers; they do not replace decent road work at all as some seem to think.
 
My welshie goes on it once a day for 30 min. Not replacing any work but adding to it. Also sometimes as a cool down as she can get very hot and bothered.
 
I don't like them.

There was a very interesting study on them. It found that the oval ones are better than the the circular ones, because they don't damage the joints in the way that the circular ones do (due to the constant turning).
 
I'm not really a fan, if you're that desperate turn out in a school for the same time surely and the horse can self exercise. Seems pointless and must be dull for the horses, plus I would never trust mine on one! :p
 
When I was on a yard with one many moons ago I never allowed my youngster on it. At another yard we had a treadmill and the horses utterly loved that. Stallion used to let himself out the stable and stand on it in the morning!:D
 
I use it simply so mine can stretch their legs whilst I muck out. I wouldn't use it to replace exercise though and can't imagine it doing much for building muscle/strengthening..
 
Nicnac said:
Hate them. Soul destroying things.

Always think of that stupid person who forgot the horse on the walker and left it on all night :mad:
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That's incredible - poor horse

I am a fan but only of the bigger circular/oval ones due to the studies Faracat mentions
 
FfionWinnie said:
When I was on a yard with one many moons ago I never allowed my youngster on it. At another yard we had a treadmill and the horses utterly loved that. Stallion used to let himself out the stable and stand on it in the morning!:D
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Now if I had a water treadmill, I would be very happy!
 
Can't quote on phone, but exactly what maesfen said. I'm not entirely convinced by the rehab use either, unless its a huge one. Last thing a horse with compromised movement/fitness needs is to be walking in a small circle.
 
I was hugely dubious when I first went to my yard. But Bree walks round calmly and it seems to have an almost hypnotic, calming effect on her, and as long as she's not on it for too long on balance I think it gives her something different to do in the day, particularly in the winter.

Paula
 
My 3 year old goes on every morning before being turned out - only for 20 minutes and then he is worked when he comes in. I'd prefer a larger oval one, but I think they are very useful, especially over winter when turnout is limited. Plus he looks adorable in his walker rug. :o
 
My horse hates them and refuses to go in. He went in the first few times but then he just refused point blank. An other horse at the yard learned that if he stood and tolerated the little shock and pressure it would stop. I have heard of a pony that lies down and lets the partitions pass above him.
 
Have only used Monarch so cant comment on other makes. Horses go in easily and dont stress up, it has a roof and lights so great for winter months when its pouring with rain. Very useful for fitness but dont leave them on there too long as must be boring after a while. Great for warming up before you ride and cooling down if youve got ltd time or lots to ride.
 
I'm not overly keen however our yard does close the fields on excessively wet days (twice so far this winter) and on those days the walker is a necessary evil! I wouldnt put anything under the age of 6 in one personally, as the constant turn etc can't be great for them.
 
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