how long to return to hunting fitness?

[L&M]

Prior to this weather, my two were fit enought to happily hunt once, sometimes twice a week. They have not been ridden for 3 weeks, and if I allow another 2 weeks until a complete thaw, that would make 5 weeks in total with no excercise (they are getting daily turnout but would not class it as excercise, as they are just stationary in the field eating hay).
Therefore my question is how long would it take to regain this fitness, and how many weeks of work should they get before returning to the hunting field?
Opinions gratfully received as I imagine there are a lot of us in the same situation,
Thanks

 

[spacefaer]

The first week of layoff does not significantly affect the level of fitness so I would reckon on 4 weeks off work.

Their aerobic capacity will be mostly affected (ability to do fast work) ie if an endurance horse had a month off, it would be less affected than a racehorse who would not be back on the racecourse for a couple of months

I would think a week hacking, building up quite quickly to full pre-rest hacking then fast work the week after would get you out the following week......

 

[Dogstar]

If the horse is a sound animal I would take it hunting straight away but just for a very short day and build it up.

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

Would do some hackin and see how they go and how they feel as some maintain there fitness better than others anyway, remember that a lot of the field and hunt staff will b mounted on fairly unfit horses as well so u won't b the only 1!!

 

[Ditchjumper2]

If the horse is a sound animal I would take it hunting straight away but just for a very short day and build it up.

Yes I would agree. Go out, take it easy and see how it goes. Everyone else, including hunt staff, will be in the same position. But how great it will be to get out again.

 

[L&M]

Thanks for all your advice and will take it on board.

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

Remeber it will also partly depend on how long u hunted them for before they had time off ie all day or half days?? Some of the hunt staff will prop do second horses so that they can get more horses and there's obv won't b v fit either so wen they do second horses could b a fairly good time to pack up if poss, if mine isn't that fit this is wen I normally go home and u can often feel they just done enough, will also depend how easily u can feel your horse is tired some are easier to tell than others, hope I managed to write that clear enough