How long to build muscle from scratch?

[Mince Pie]

My TB had pretty much all of last year off so has no topline at all. I'm currently hacking her up hills 3 days a week (up a fairly steep hill, back down then up a steep hill and back down in walk) and doing 2/3 days a week with the pessoa, if I carry on with this routine how long should it take for her to build a decent topline?

Would just like an idea of a time scale so I have a goal to work towards!

 

[Maesfen]

Work on getting her fit then the topline will automatically come if she's worked properly. Best way is to hack her out up and down your hills though you don't say how long it takes or how far it is.
With fat lazy hunters just up from grass it takes approx 12 weeks to get up to cantering work as you need to strengthen everything up gradually starting with half hour and ending up doing at least two hours. Personally, I think one day of using a Pessoa, the rest spent hacking will be far better for her rather than trying to force it too quickly as that way you have more chance of asking too much too soon which will bring trouble.
They always say you should allow at least one week for each month the horse has been off work and make sure it is comfortable with what you are asking before you go on to another stage.

 

[ihatework]

3 days on a pessoa after a year off and you are asking for trouble. A good 8-12 weeks hacking before anything else, then go easy on the pesoa!

 

[Mince Pie]

She has been in work for about 6 or 8 weeks now just hacking so is not starting completely from scratch - have been working on her fitness, now want to work on her topline

 

[Maesfen]

Nothing like moving the goal posts lol! Is she working easily for up to two hours or doing something like 10 - 12 miles a day as until she's doing at least that I wouldn't say she's fit at all. If you're working her properly and making her use herself well both up and down those hills then her topline should be getting better anyway, should be no need for a Pessoa at all.

Just go very easy on the Pessoa they can be a dangerous bit of kit used on something that is not fit as you're asking it to use muscles it hasn't got.

 

[Mince Pie]

Our longest circular route is 6.5 miles but she feels like she could do it again when she gets back. She was out of work from Feb to Oct last year, was ridden from Oct to end Dec then had Jan off then cam back into work in beginning Feb, she also lives out in a 2 acre field with the bale of hay at the opposite end to the water trough.
She does use her bum up and down the hills and I ride with a contact, but being an ex racer who came out of training last Jan she has no concept of an 'outline' hence the pessoa which is on a very loose setting.