Ideas on how to get my older horse fit?

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JessPickle

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Pickle is now 19 years old, I try very hard to keep him fit and the weight off him but its becoming increasingly difficult, he has never been on such good grazing before as it is, we're restricting it but he is definetly chubbier and not as fit as in the past.

Currently he works about 5/6 times a week consisting of:

-1/2 long 2.5 hour hack. Involving about 40 minutes roadwork walk and trot, then flat fields with some longer canters and a little gallop
-1 Schooling session, around 30 minutes, he hates schooling and I find the less he's in the school the better he is.
-then rest of the time is just trotting round roads, normally 40 mins to an hour

I have never been at a yard with no hills, so hill work being out of the question not totally sure what to do.

A Picture of him recently, showing lack of muscle!

IMG00084-20110719-1311.jpg
 
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I think he looks in very good nick.

And workload is good too....especially the hacking.

Will he lunge? 15 mins mainly in trot, once or twice a week keeps my 18yr old ticking over nicely.

Do you jump? Maybe incorporate some polework into your flatwork to make it more interesting?

Other than that, winter is coming!! ;-)
 
I don't think he looks bad either, he is lacking neck muscle but his backend looks ok, he doesn't look that chubby. He is doin a fair amount off work most horse would be fit with that! Wonder if maybe worth checking he's correctly through his neck etc to see if that mag help his neck muscle?
 
Can you find a swimming pool in reach? How about travelling to a beach & working on the sand. Both low impact & high intensity workouts. I would bear in mind being older it will take longer to build fitness & muscle. You may want to consider adding more protein to his diet. Our elderly (still in work) tb is fed higher protein grass nuts than the younger horses. If we don't she starts to pick up niggling injuries when she works & is harder to muscle up.
 
Thanks both :) maybe I am being too harsh re weight, just very paranoid about laminitis etc, never been at a yard with such amazing grazing!

I lunge a bit, but he is a pain in the arse to lunge which puts me off I think, I really should do more. Yeah we do jump a bit, try not to make it too often or he goes sour. Do a little bit of competing 2ft3 ish and then jump him every couple of weeks, he is an experienced horse that never stops so doesn't need much practise.

I'd love to ride on a beach, lack of any transport is an issue but if I can save up a bit should have the money to rent something :)

Feed wise he is on haylage and then chaff and mix but not much else just because the grass is good. Oh and a supplement as he is prone to anaemia.
 
A fun gridwork jumping session is useful,if you have someone to do the fences for you,it should not be boring if done properly with variety, it gets them really using themselves and can be kept short and sweet.
Some canter work in the school with lots of shortening and lengthening can also be fun if you cannot canter much when hacking,think of it as cantering not schooling.
 
I think he looks great and I'd never had said he was 19, definitely looks younger :)

My horse is 16 and I'm finding now that it's getting more difficult to build and maintain the right muscle. He tends to look a bit pot bellied and my first thought is always that he's overweight but actually when he's working correctly and using his back, he sucks that belly up and looks much better. I've changed his feed this year to include alfalfa (higher protein) which has really helped. He's also a v good doer so I have to be careful what I feed but it seems that coming off bog standard chaff (Hifi etc) and onto alfalfa, he's finding it easier to build and maintain muscle but isn't putting weight on.

If you're really concerned about weight then what about switching haylage for hay? The work load is good IMHO, plenty of hacking :) I'd minimise trotting on the roads though, personally, and just make sure you get a good active walk. I also find that fast work (so plenty of cantering when the ground is good) helps my boy to use his abs and suck his pot belly in.
 
What a lovely looking chap!
Sorry, think I've missed your back story - why are hills out of the question?
Does he often stand with his feet tucked a little under him like the pic or is it just a one off when you took the photo?
When you hack/school him is it done at a marching pace? Esp in walk, a slower walk just won't work them much, but a good striding out walk will work wonders!
If he hates school work, can you put some poles out to make it more interesting for him? Walking poles are ace for helping them to stretch and work over their back - just pop 4 out on a 20m circle. One of ours hates school work, but throw a few poles about and change it each time you go in the school and she is a happy forward going girl - transformed!
Since he is slightly getting on in years (though by no means old!) I would avoid regular lunging, as unless you are able to really walk with him and lunge big ovals then it can put a fair bit of un-needed stress on the joints.
If you are concerned about his weight, can you switch to soaked hay? With mix and chaff for his supp, can you just put him on something like fast fibre - no chaff needed, soaked so a little bulks up to be a decent hiding place for supps, and low cal?
 
I dont think he looks as bad as you think he does!! :p

He looks fit and healthy for his age and if he is happy and healthy then I wouldnt worry too much!

Maybe a bit of lunging, even once a week would help and working over raised trotting poles to mix it up a bit but otherwise - dont stress and enjoy him!
 
Thank you everyone, really appreciate the thoughts and will be trying out everything.

ThePony, no hills as we moved yards and where we are now is flat as a pancake, we don't have transport so can't box to a hill without a bit cost.
 
JessPickle said:
Thank you everyone, really appreciate the thoughts and will be trying out everything.

ThePony, no hills as we moved yards and where we are now is flat as a pancake, we don't have transport so can't box to a hill without a bit cost.
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Ah right, I didn't know if it was due to an injury! In that case I would go nuts for walk poles! After going over them a few times you'll really feel him stretch over his back when stepping over him - will really help with his topline. I like them placed at quarters around a circle as you can walk and trot them as well as wiggle in and out to keep it interesting. I do them weekly with my mare now as she was slower to develop in behind which was keeping our trot rather flatter than ideal. The change after just a few weeks is amazing. It is harder work than you imagine if they aren't used to it, but they are ace!
 
you could also do raised poles to make pole work even harder. Either raise one end or both, someone on here suggested using cheap pound shop potties rather than expensive pole pod type things!
 
It is very odd, makes Henry more interesting to ride, riding a bucker up a hill is much easier :p and yes Lucy we shall hack soon :)
 
I think he looks great, Jess.

He needs some flesh on his bones, because he's a big lad.

Pull his mane, and his neck will automatically look better - but that's just being picky.:D
 
amymay said:
I think he looks great, Jess.

He needs some flesh on his bones, because he's a big lad.

Pull his mane, and his neck will automatically look better - but that's just being picky.:D
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Thank you, with everyone at the yard worrying about there horse and laminitis I just got panicky about his weight.

HAHA I knew that would come up soon enough, once I can drag someone up to do it, it will be pulled :p Trust me my attempts are a total disaster!
 
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