ideas for riding/lungeing exercises

[Rachael42]

Hi,
I’m looking for ideas for what I can do with my very fat cob, he’s needing his exercise increased to help with the weight loss but I don’t just want to stick him on the lunge or ride him round a field. He will do poles with a rider pushing him on, ideally the end goal when he’s fit enough is to jump. His diet is already being managed.

 

[vmac66]

Lots of hacking, walking out in hand briskly. Long lining. I lunge in squares moving with my horse

 

[Rachael42]

Lots of hacking, walking out in hand briskly. Long lining. I lunge in squares moving with my horse

Thanks!

 

[Leo Walker]

It depends how fat he is. With a very fat horse you have to be careful not to do more harm than good. But otherwise, raised pole work is good for engaging their abs, but unless hes fit already, I would get him out hacking. Once you have a base line of fitness you can start some interval training and school work, but initially hacking, slowly increasing distance and speed.

 

[JFTDWS]

Assuming you're starting from a low fitness point, get out and walk him for miles - briskly, not slopping along, up and down hills if you have them. Build in trot and canter work as his fitness develops. Worry about the arena work once he's fitter and shifted a fair few pounds.

I would advocate against lunging a fat horse to any noticable degree.