How long to bring a horse back into work after a month off?

[PipsqueakXy22]

Hi so 19 year old ISH I’m currently riding hasn’t been ridden in a month due to me being away for Xmas and New Years and also the awful weather we’ve had. I’m wondering how long it will take for me to get his fitness up again. Or maybe to phrase it differently how long can they have off without loosing fitness? When I took him on in summer he’d been off work for 2 years and it took me almost 3 months to get to canter and be able to go to a show after 4 months, but after a month off he wont have lost as much fitness?
Before the Christmas break, he was being ridden 4 times a week or so only in light/moderate work anyway, which is really all I need him to do since we only do intro/prelim and and a bit of showing.
Reason I’m asking is because there is a prelim dressage show in 2 weeks and another one in 4 weeks and I’m wondering if we will be ready.

 

[Red-1]

I would say it depends on his age and vet history, as well as the sort of turnout he has had.

If he is in the prime of life, healthy and has been on good turnout in a big field with others, I would take it easy for a week and then crack on.

If he has issues, is very young or old, or has been standing still on a postage stamp paddock, I would adjust the easy work time upwards.

 

[Abacus]

I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that they don’t actually lose much fitness until they’ve had about 6+ weeks off, especially if they have a lot of turnout. And if they’ve been fit in their lives before it’s easier to get it back than for a youngster building muscle from scratch. I would think he’d be fine for your shows which aren’t especially demanding, if you don’t over warm up and it’s not too far to travel. Be guided by him and how he feels. You can build up fitness well in mostly walk, if you ask him to work properly and use hills and poles, so you don’t have to push for a lot of trot and canter in the first few days.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I wouldn’t say that is a long time off, if it was 12/16 weeks that’s different, should only take him a couple of weeks of regular work to pick it up ?

 

[AmyMay]

A 19 year old horse will take more time than a 9 year old horse.

 

[Orangehorse]

Not long, you certainly don't have to back to the beginning!

I think in humans it is 2 weeks to loose peak fitness, an experiment in Australia with young racehorses said 6 weeks. So for an older horse just bring him back gradually but I think you might be surprised at how fit he is still.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that they don’t actually lose much fitness until they’ve had about 6+ weeks off, especially if they have a lot of turnout. And if they’ve been fit in their lives before it’s easier to get it back than for a youngster building muscle from scratch. I would think he’d be fine for your shows which aren’t especially demanding, if you don’t over warm up and it’s not too far to travel. Be guided by him and how he feels. You can build up fitness well in mostly walk, if you ask him to work properly and use hills and poles, so you don’t have to push for a lot of trot and canter in the first few days.

Ive always found this, and after having a research I found about 6 weeks off they won’t loose much fitness (providing not kept in)

My mare had 8 weeks off, I walked for a week and was careful just to be safe but she didn’t take long to get to where she was before.

I’d just go steady OP. Start with hacking in walk, see how he goes.

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

I would say it depends on his age and vet history, as well as the sort of turnout he has had.

If he is in the prime of life, healthy and has been on good turnout in a big field with others, I would take it easy for a week and then crack on.

If he has issues, is very young or old, or has been standing still on a postage stamp paddock, I would adjust the easy work time upwards.

ok thanks, he has good turnout in a 2 acre field there was about a week where we were completely snowed in and couldn’t physically get him out in the field but apart from that even in light snow or rain he gets about 8-12 hours turnout a day through winter (lives out in summer). He doesn’t really have any issues either

 

[MagicMelon]

Depends on the particular horse, I remember I had 2 horses both similar aged and exactly same routine (living out 24/7) with exactly same exercise routine but totally different types - the Welsh D was so hard to get fit, yet my TB x competition horse at the time seemed to NEVER get unfit even when he had time off! He'd just go on forever and never seem to tire, the Welsh D was fit but just seemed to struggle far quicker. Id say at home, just pretend youre at the event so warm up as normal then do both tests - see what state the horse is in after that? If he copes fine then there you go

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I don't think they loose that much fitness when they are turned out everyday, it's not like when they have a months box rest so would just do a week of gentle riding then just get back to normal.

 

[Polos Mum]

They take as long to get back as they have had off and that is back to where they were before.

So if he was just about getting fit 4 weeks ago - take 4 weeks to build back up to where you were

For an older horse who's had time off - then more build up is better to reduce risk of injury.

I gage a human year to be 3 horse years - so think about how you might build fitness in a 60 y/o person.

 

[Squeak]

They take as long to get back as they have had off and that is back to where they were before.

So if he was just about getting fit 4 weeks ago - take 4 weeks to build back up to where you were

For an older horse who's had time off - then more build up is better to reduce risk of injury.

I gage a human year to be 3 horse years - so think about how you might build fitness in a 60 y/o person.

I might have missed some contradicting research/ evidence but the last I knew was that it was shown that they take double the time to lose fitness as to gain it - so if they've been off for four weeks, they will have lost 2 weeks of fitness.

 

[rara007]

I’d expect to be ready for a single prelim test in that time.

 

[exracehorse]

I rode out for two hour hack yesterday and he’s been only ridden once in five weeks. Ok .. mainly walk. And some short bursts of trot. As ground so wet. But i didn’t even think about it.

 

[Ali27]

My 20 year old had 2 weeks off as I had a horrible flu bug? I’ve hacked her for last two weeks, flatwork lesson today and jumping clinic next Sat. She seems fine and full of energy ?

 

[blitznbobs]

Tbh id lunge a bit if you think there will be fireworks or if not get in and do a short session… then hack for a couple of days and then if all feels ok just get on with it

 

[JoA]

This is a minefield isn't it? I honestly believe that like humans, horses are all different. My ISH mare is 29 in June and has just had 3.5 weeks off (my illness and Christmas). She lives out 24/7 in a 2.5 acre field in the winter and chases me flat out whilst I take her hay and feed up the field on the quad. Yesterday I rode her for the first time in 25 days and thought I would just do a 30 min hack to village & back. Not on her agenda! We were out 1hr 10min and she jogged, trotted and strode on in her ground covering walk and never tired and thoroughly enjoyed herself. I had difficulty keeping up whilst leading to turn out. My vet checked her on Tues after doing teeth and vacs and couldn't believe how flexible she still is. All I can say is that I feel incredibly lucky and value every ride and contact I have with her after 23yrs of ownership. I have to add that I am not boasting about her or her care as I lost my 13yr old Arab 18 months ago (I'd had him 10 yrs), proving I feel, that my initial statement is correct. They are all different....so go with your gut feeling about what suits your horse and situation.