How much is too much (work)?

[DonskiWA]

I have a beautiful new boy - 16.2h, Holstein WB X TB.
JUST 6 years old.
He‘s a big, gangly, smooch, more whoa than go.
My plan is to work him 3 days on, one day off. 2 sessions of flat and one of trail ride or jumping alternating.
My question to you all is does this sound like too much work for a youngster or is it ok?
Bearing in mind, we are only jumping 60-70cm and working in a long frame at this stage.

 

[ihatework]

The work load sounds fine but I wouldn’t be alternating the trail with jump. I’d make sure he got a trail at least every 3rd day (could do more in all honesty). The jumping can be incorporated into one of the flat sessions, no more than once a week

 

[Polos Mum]

For a big (still growing) gangly type (presuming you want him to last and he's for you in the long run not for resale) then I would do a lot more trail / hacking than schooling. You can 'school' out hacking and that doesn't have the pressure on his immature joints that going around and around in circles would have.

I would be tempted to do trail ride, school, trail ride, then off and then every alternative school put some pole work in (once every 8 days)

 

[scruffyponies]

Agree with the other posters. Hack him lots. Show him the world.

 

[Kaylum]

As we always say get them out and about for a couple of hours instead of stuck in the school. Most horses are in lightwork and does them good to go for a 2 couple of hours a day.

 

[doodle]

Another who agrees to hack hack and hack.

 

[rara007]

Sounds fine.

 

[Scotsbadboy]

Apparently hacking two days on the trot is too much work according to some RID in the Bucks area!!! *ahem* happens to be grey *ahem*

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Another who agrees to hack hack and hack.

Yep, lots of hacking.

You can school while out hacking to which is what we do a lot of with our youngsters and established horses.

 

[DonskiWA]

Phew, great answers. I’d much prefer to be hacking as well, so win win! Thankyou