How slow should I go?

D

doodle

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 June 2007
Messages
4,531
Visit site
Bringing Robin back into work. I have no plans to get on and ride for a good while. Ideally I will wait a month till he has had his next touch session and I have lost more weight.

He has been very ill for 4 months. So even without being ill I would be taking it slow. So I will start with walks in hand. I should ask the vet really but I didn’t think and when I emailed asking if I could start in hand walks he said that would be good.

He did 9 mins yesterday. My thought was a day on a day off. Do this for 2 weeks making the walks a little longer. Then maybe 2 days on one day off? I’m in no rush with him.
 
S

Sossigpoker

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 September 2020
Messages
3,190
Visit site
Three aspects to exercise: intensity, duration and frequency. Only increase one of those at a time , for example if you increase the intensity by introducing some trot work, then the duration or the frequency of the sessions shouldn't increase.
 
J

Jango

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 July 2010
Messages
607
Visit site
What's been wrong with him? If he is turned out for the day, then a 9 min in hand walk won't be improving anything. If he's been on box rest for months and this is his first time leaving the stable then that sounds perfect. I would walk him out every day rather than days off, just keep it really short. Maybe let him pick at some grass if he is medically able. Again it depends on the illness as to how much to increase by. When I've rehabbed leg injuries it's usually adding 5 mins each week. If he is very weak I would want him walking for around 40 mins before introducing any trot.
 
D

doodle

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 June 2007
Messages
4,531
Visit site
Jango said:
What's been wrong with him? If he is turned out for the day, then a 9 min in hand walk won't be improving anything.
Click to expand...

Less than a month ago we were discussing when we should call it a day. Initially it was hock arthritis. Then gastric ulcers. Then a very bad lung infection and anaemia. Infection cleared but he was left with froth in his lungs so he was on inhaled steroids. Those finished yesterday. He was very unwell. As in total he was ill for 4 months. He was holding his body tense and tight and couldn’t bear to be touched. He has been out in the day throughout. But having been so ill, so recently I do not want to do anything too quick. He still needs to relax his body. He is now happy to be touched and groomed but this is not going to be a quick process.
 
B

be positive

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 July 2011
Messages
19,396
Visit site
His recovery is a credit to you, and your vet, as for coming back into work I would go as slowly as you want he is your horse and the last thing you need is pressure to go with too fixed a routine so I would be a bit led by the weather, it is a beautiful morning here today so going a bit further for a gentle wander will do no harm, it is not the same as riding as you can stop, let him pick grass while you chill and enjoy being with him, as he has been getting out each day he should be fine having a 1/2 stroll on a lovely day when we get one and can have the rainy day off.
Once he is back in ridden work you can be a bit more clear with daily plans so it increases carefully with plenty of days off to ensure he is not put under any strain, I would avoid hills if you can for some time as his lungs will need plenty of time to fully get back to normal, they would be my primary concern with what I did as any undue strain can be detrimental, so slightly different to bringing one back from an injury where you try to get lots of hill work into them.
 
D

doodle

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 June 2007
Messages
4,531
Visit site
be positive said:
His recovery is a credit to you, and your vet, as for coming back into work I would go as slowly as you want he is your horse and the last thing you need is pressure to go with too fixed a routine so I would be a bit led by the weather, it is a beautiful morning here today so going a bit further for a gentle wander will do no harm, it is not the same as riding as you can stop, let him pick grass while you chill and enjoy being with him, as he has been getting out each day he should be fine having a 1/2 stroll on a lovely day when we get one and can have the rainy day off.
Once he is back in ridden work you can be a bit more clear with daily plans so it increases carefully with plenty of days off to ensure he is not put under any strain, I would avoid hills if you can for some time as his lungs will need plenty of time to fully get back to normal, they would be my primary concern with what I did as any undue strain can be detrimental, so slightly different to bringing one back from an injury where you try to get lots of hill work into them.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I have had a few helpful suggestions of just getting on and get going!

Unforunately yard is at the top of a hill so whichever way we go we hit hill work after a couple of minutes ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top