In hand exercise ideas

[AutumnDays]

Those of you who have horses who cannot/are not ridden for whatever reason, what do you do to keep them moving? I have two, that would have to be lead out together (they are spot on with this, voice cues are instant), ride lead would be ideal, but none of us are in any shape to to that, or will be. There is a nice wide road with a hill to a beach (dead end) we can utilise in winter as it's dead, summer is a no go due to holiday makers and the volume of traffic on the roads. They have a tracked equicentral system. What can I do with them in the fields? Would 5-10 minutes of walking with poles suffice? They've had this year off anything really, due to house move and making sure land is fenced etc, so hoping to start up again soon, as we all need it! Thanks in advance

 

[Tiddlypom]

10 mins of walking in hand a few times a week inside the perimeter of my 40m x 20m arena over just a couple of slightly raised poles helps hugely to keep my oldies loosened up and flexing their joints. I do 5 mins on each rein.

This is my 23yo earlier this year. The poles are pole pod height, one on each long side. She loves it. My chiro vet says that she can always tell those who do a bit with their retirees as opposed to just chucking them out in the field.

 

[AutumnDays]

10 mins of walking in hand a few times a week inside the perimeter of my 40m x 20m arena over just a couple of slightly raised poles helps hugely to keep my oldies loosened up and flexing their joints. I do 5 mins on each rein.

This is my 23yo earlier this year. The poles are pole pod height, one on each long side. She loves it. My chiro vet says that she can always tell those who do a bit with their retirees as opposed to just chucking them out in the field.

Brilliant, as simple as that? That we can do, one can watch and wait their turn then, easier for me! One is 5yo and one is 14yo, but both have issues that means they have been medically retired from ridden work, so this sort of thing will be great for them.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It’s as simple as that . I believe that pound shop potties make good inexpensive pole pod substitutes to raise the poles up a bit.

Good luck.

 

[dorsetladette]

I have logs around their water troughs to step over and in and out of the shelter. I did have them in gate ways in and out of each field but it meant chain harrowing you had to get off the quad and move them and they didn't always get put back afterwards which defeated the object.

I like raised poles in walk too (I little trotting too) Backing up up hill helps with tummy muscles.

 

[Landcruiser]

I also have logs on the entrance to my track and a whole load of tyres that they have to step over/around. They can't avoid them so step over them many times a day.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Logs are a great idea, too, but I’d be forever face planting over them .

 

[AutumnDays]

I also have logs on the entrance to my track and a whole load of tyres that they have to step over/around. They can't avoid them so step over them many times a day.

How have you laid out your tyres? We have some lying about here to be scrapped, so if they could be used I'll nab them!

 

[stangs]

I think it’s helpful to do various different movements with them, both because the body needs variety and also because different movements give you a different sense of what might be tight/niggling them/etc. Plus it’s more interesting for you if not them.

For a late teens gelding whose main issue is arthritis and who was never properly schooled before, I mix and match the following: reinback (uphill, downhill, head at neutral, head low); lateral (leg yield, shoulder-in, side pass); small circles to get the hind stepping under; turns on the forehand or hind; flexions; etc. I don’t have access to poles so I take him over dried ruts instead from time to time. Overall, he does no more than 20-30min per session unless I’m adding lots of walking in between exercises, at which point it might go up to 1hr (that's for his metabolism though, not physical rehab). Then add on another 5min doing carrot stretches, which can be static or dynamic.

Vet thinks my boy’s moving well and is “surprisingly flexible” even though he’s only worked a couple days a week so something, whether it’s the in-hand work or his walks must be having an effect.

But if you want a simple checklist of exercises to run through, Oliveira et al (2015, 2020) found the following effective for improving way of going:

• 5 min walking
• 20m circle including stepping over a pole raised to 40cm
• Pelvic tilt with pressure increased till lumbosacral join fully flexed for 5s
• 10 steps reinback, parallel to fence with lowered head
• Carrot stretches for spinal flexion (chin touches chest; between fetlocks; between carpi) and lateral bending (chin to shoulder, chin to flank, chin towards hind fetlock). 5 reps of each stretch, held for 5s each.
• 3 reps of a tight circle around a barrel with the handler on the inside.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Just to add this video of my retired oldie walking over a slightly raised pole this morning. As well as this three or so times a week, she gets on most days fore and hind limb stretches, tail pulls, carrot stretches, and backing up for a few steps. All low key.

Her staying happy for all this is key to helping me to evaluate her ongoing QOL. She’s had to come off long term Prascend for her Cushing’s so I’m keeping a close eye on her.

Bless her, I didn’t realise that she was actually busting for a wee when I filmed this .

 

[lynz88]

Gillian Higgins has some groundwork videos and also some mobilizations that are useful. I've started this with mine and we work on keeping everything relaxed so that he works the correct muscles.

 

[AutumnDays]

Brilliant, thanks for your replies everyone

 

[Boughtabay]

The Polework patterns app is good - patterns for any number of poles and notes what they work on. It’s a one off payment I think, but I find it good for in hand and ridden - I make some parts of the patterns raised as I see fit. Especially good if you have a limited number of poles and are bored of waking over them in a line