Returning horse to work

[George123]

Hi,

I have recently bought a horse that was turned away for a year.

The horse was turned away for a holiday, not becuase it was injured and was out, unshod 24 hours for 12 months.

Previously, the horse had been showjumping so was relatively fit.

I have bought the horse for eventing and hope to hunt her over the winter, so I need to get her pretty fit. However, I have had conflicting advice as to how to bring the horse back into work...

Firstly, that I should walk for 6 weeks, hacking building up the trot work etc after 6 weeks, as if the horse had been off with an injury.,..However, it wasnt and it wasnt on boxrest....

I dont mind doing this at all and am actually 3 weeks into walking in hacks....But others have said becuase the horse wasnt off with an injury and has been turned out I dont need to be so careful....4 days a week hacking, mainly walk, a little trot and a small canter a week our hacking - 15mins a week on the Pessoa and 30 mins once a week in the school....

I would rather do the latter as it is far more interesting, but am concerned that I may be doing too much....I dont mind doing the 6 weeks walking and am already halfway there...

But I just wondered whether anyone has had experience of bringing a horse back into work after a long period of non-injuey related rest and how did you go about it?

Incase is matters, the horse is 8YO...
George123

 

[hadfos]

6wks walking great for weightloss but not for fittening,your horse has done 3 wks of walking i would start to build up now

I have never walked a horse for 6 wks and never had anything other than good results

sounds like you know what you are doing,crack on with what you feel is right and you wont go far wrong

,people sometimes can be too forthright with an opinion which will throw you and make you doubt your own judgement!

 

[magic14339]

The main thing to consider is that bone is constantly remodelling so as the horse has not been worked for a year the bone and related structures will not be ready even though the horse has been active. General fitness wise I think the horse will have kept a certain amount of fitness but I dont think you can ever spend too much time doing your slow conditioning. I would kick up the pace a little and consider an interval training programme where the horse is worked harder one day then has a lighter day after to allow for the bone to respond without getting over stressed. Hope it all goes well.

 

[George123]

Great!

Thanks for your messages, I agree with upping the pace a little and doing slightly harder work one day and softening it the next....I guess, that could even be hills in walk on a contact instead of on a long rein.....
I will def keep hacking for the 6 weeks, maybe do 1 day walk followed by next day on a contact with a little trot and then next day walk on long rein again....etc......

I have bought horses back into work following injury and see the principal behind the 6 weeks walking there, but I do think this is slightly different...Tho, I would hate to create an injury and have to go back to the start.....

Thanks again for your comments....anymore also welcome, espesh from anyone that has done this with a horse that hasnt been injured....

Regards,

george123