sissi2006
New User
Hi there,
I'm looking for some advice as to how much and what kind of exercise my mare needs.
She is roughly 5 years old (connemara x with something finer), has had a shoddy past (came without nothing how to pick up her feet and no manners, hooves in a state with two loose shoes that looked like they had been on for years) and is very spooky (this has gotten better as our bond has developed) but is finally beginning to enjoy riding bit by bit as long as it's not too far from the stables (we are managing to get further and further away before she panics). She is barefoot.
My real problem is that the place where she's stabled only has fields to ride in that are now water-logged and dangerous. There is a track of gravel with many potholes that when she trots she skips over and a fairly large cemented drive but that's it apart from a few grassy, wet paddocks.
Although she has started building up muscle in her hindquarters from riding (we tend to ride approximately 5 times a week for 20-25 minutes dependent on the weather) she is still very depleted in her shoulders and back...
At the moment, due to the weather, she is being stabled as there are no safe turnout fields but she gets a chance to roam on a cemented yard.
What can I do within my circumstances to try and develop her muscle without taking risks?
Thanks for any advice offered!
I'm looking for some advice as to how much and what kind of exercise my mare needs.
She is roughly 5 years old (connemara x with something finer), has had a shoddy past (came without nothing how to pick up her feet and no manners, hooves in a state with two loose shoes that looked like they had been on for years) and is very spooky (this has gotten better as our bond has developed) but is finally beginning to enjoy riding bit by bit as long as it's not too far from the stables (we are managing to get further and further away before she panics). She is barefoot.
My real problem is that the place where she's stabled only has fields to ride in that are now water-logged and dangerous. There is a track of gravel with many potholes that when she trots she skips over and a fairly large cemented drive but that's it apart from a few grassy, wet paddocks.
Although she has started building up muscle in her hindquarters from riding (we tend to ride approximately 5 times a week for 20-25 minutes dependent on the weather) she is still very depleted in her shoulders and back...
At the moment, due to the weather, she is being stabled as there are no safe turnout fields but she gets a chance to roam on a cemented yard.
What can I do within my circumstances to try and develop her muscle without taking risks?
Thanks for any advice offered!
and pictures too.... You can't post on here without pictures of your girl
