How much fitness will they have lost due to the Weather?

[3Beasties]

I guess like many of you my two haven't been ridden properly for about 3/4 weeks due to the Ice and then snow (they have had a few little hacks around the block in walk but that's it).

Before their little break they were both pretty fit, getting worked 4 or 5 times a week.

They have been turned out 24/7.

As it has finally started raining I am hoping I may be able to ride this weekend but am unsure what to do with them.

Would they have lost much fitness in 3/4 weeks?

 

[AmyMay]

I was thinking about this this morning - and have not ridden for a good two weeks. And before then, only about 5 times over Christmas due to the ice - and walking work only.

My fit horse is now a little portly, so I'm assuming a lot of his fitness has gone - and I'll start again from scatch and play it by ear.

 

[KatB]

You'd be surprised. Horses don't loose much fitness up until about 6 weeks off. Also don't under estimate walk work, if it has been relatively active work in an outline, it does help with fitness a lot. The event yard I was on had all the horses upto PN just being kept fit by using the walker and their normal flat/jumping sessions

I would probably take it easy with slowish (walk, trot, small amount of canter) for the first week, and then back to normal.

 

[Optimist]

Totally agree KatB. I started again yesterday having done nothing but turn out since New Year's day, will take it easy for a few days but intend to hunt next Saturday.

 

[stencilface]

Mine has been out every day, so I am not anticipating him being much less fit than normal in winter when he only gets ridden 2-3 times a week anyway

I am hoping to get to an indoor tomorrow to free school him and let him have a run around, seeing as the weather will be warmer, but wet and windy

 

[claireelizabeth]

I was wondering this too, hardly got Daughters pony out in this bad weather since before Xmas and they've got mounted games training next week at the indoor school (only beginners so won't be going mad) but was still a bit concerned.

 

[maestro]

I agree they shouldnt lose too much fittness just lung fitness. The ones to watch and go slowly with though are those that have had injurys in the past. They need to go slowly imo to make sure the weaker legs/joints are strong enough. Obviously those that have tied up in the past need to take care too and none need feed upping for a good while, just keep the forage going in.

 

[bex1984]

I think mine has lost a fair bit, but then his workload had dropped from early Dec onwards as I was majorly busy! I am starting from scratch with walk work, and trying to use it as a useful opportunity to work on some things I should have worked on ages ago. Since I've had him he's never had more than about 4 days off in a row, and I now haven't ridden for 2 weeks so it's been quite a big change for him. Cannot chuffing wait to get started again!!

 

[Peacelily]

mirror KatB, they stay pretty fit for a long time after work, they're not the same as humans where we can see a difference in a couple of days if we don't keep the exercise up, they're designed differently to us (phew!)

 

[L&M]

I not too worried about the loss of fitness, mine had 3 weeks off last year due to snow and were back out hunting within a couple of weeks, but I am amazed at how quickly my 2 have lost muscle/topline this time round. They haven't been ridden for 29 days now so will need to take it easy for the next few weeks.