Quickest way bring a competition horse back into work

[Jlch09]

Hi people,

My horse that I use for eventing and team chasing cut his leg in the field 8 weeks ago and has been on box rest ever since. Next week I have been told by the vet that I can start exercising him again.

I'm supposed to be team chase coming up at the end of September, if this at all possible!

What is the quickest, most effective way of getting him fit in a short space of time?

Thanks in advance

 

[be positive]

If he has been on total box rest for 2 months you will be pushing your luck rushing him back to full work by the end of Sept, that is only 4 weeks, if he had been really fit and on field rest it would be possible but I think the risk of a real injury is high if you don't take your time. If you are determined to do it, then I would turn him out overnight so he is active as much as possible, then exercise one week in walk only gradually extending the time until by the end he is out for 11/2 hours, as many hills as you can, then the second week start trotting, still doing 11/2 hours, if you can then do a second exercise some days it would help, even just 10 mins lunging, week 3 longer trotting, start cantering, more hills, week 4 if you are lucky he will be fit enough to do some fast work and jump in preparation for the TC.

I think the main thing is to hack as much as you can to build up the muscles that will be weak after standing in for so long, the tendons will tighten and you have a good chance he will be ok, if you try and cut corners or spend too much time in an arena you risk something being pulled. Daily strapping and stretching will also help.

 

[joulsey]

So your horse has been out of work on complete box rest for 2 months, and you want to get him back to peak fitness in half of that time??

Please be sensible about this, you are going to give him another injury!

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

So your horse has been out of work on complete box rest for 2 months, and you want to get him back to peak fitness in half of that time??

Please be sensible about this, you are going to give him another injury!

This - and possibly an injury that will take longer than 2 months to heal.

It really isn't worth it for one competition.

But if you are insistent on going then, then be positives post is a good one to follow.

 

[Primitive Pony]

My equine physio says that a good rule of thumb to work with is to assume that it will take the same amount of time to regain the fitness that the horse had prior to however long it had out of work eg a month off = a month to get back to where the horse was before.