Riding a horse in poor condition

J

Joya

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Gem has been on box rest for 3 weeks now, and has dropped a lot of condition, she is a nightmare to keep condition on in Winter but this year has been perticularly difficult what with her ailments and box rest etc.
So at the moment she is in quite poor condition, really lacking in muscle and needs to put on weight. The vet has told me to ride her in walk as much as possible for two weeks before she can be turned out again. I got on her yesterday and felt terrible, I felt far too heavy for her to carry in the condition that she is in at the moment.
Do you think I should leave riding until she has got more condition on her or carry on doing as the vet has said? He saw her last Tuesday, and she has dropped off again this week. I have upped her feed and hay but it seems to be taking no effect.

I do feel really terrible riding her at the moment and am just waiting for someone to make comment that I am too heavy for her
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Sorry if this post doesn't make sense, I am typing in a rush as I am going back to the stables in a second to top up her hay.
 
When we got Beau he was a hat rack and i had the same concerns, but the best thing you can do is ride her, to help build up that muscle. Perhaps use a sheepskin half pad if she has muscle wastage over her back and withers. If the vet has advised it then I would do it.

you are doing theright things to get the weight on her.
 
I think if she can carry you normally and has only had three weeks off, then she should be able to carry you now, only not doing anything energetic as you say.

Putting on weight, in fat and not muscle won't help her in the slightest. Muscle and built up stamina (with you working her gently) is what she's going to need.
 
Maybe you could walk her out inhand for a couple of weeks instead? The start riding her. I've know idea what condition she's in though - pics will help!
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If she's showing no signs of struggling when you ride her, i'm sure she's ok. Might be worth ringing round different feed companies and reassess what you feed her to help put some weight on her. Good luck though.
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I have some from Sunday but they REALLY don't show how poor she looks as it has been this week that she has noticably dropped off, here are some from Sunday
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She doesn't look bad in PG ,what has been wrong with her?
Our horse is the same at the moment and he has had a month off but still looks under weight.Do we all worry too much?
Good luck
 
You dont look too heavy for her at all , and even if she has lost a bit since the pics i am sure she will be fine, follow your vets advice and ride her, I'm sure she will enjoy it, it will take a few weeks for you to see the effects of any feed increase.
 
She sprained her hock a few weeks ago, I went down to muck out on the morning of my birthday and found her crippled in the stable! I was not a happy bunny!
The vet thinks she must have stood up funny after liying down, silly Orange One!

ETS. She was clipped before she went lame, when she needed it.
 
I know she doesn't look bad in the photos but she looks a lot worse in real life, I will get some of her tomorrow untacked to try and show what she really looks like, thanks everyone so far!
 
Put it this way.........if you were an on-looker and saw you riding your horse as she is now, what would you think?

Does that make sense?

Can you lead her from another horse rather than ride her?
If you are happy riding her, but worried about what other people may think, use a quarter sheet.
 
I think as she is your horse and you know what she looked and felt like before you feel awful. But as she is ok to be back into work to best thing is to keep going to get the condition back on her!
If you still feel that visually she looks awful, put an exercise sheet on! Oh! Didnt realise someone had said that !
The work will get her back to normal.
 
Good God Joya - if you put on another 4 stone you STILL wouldn't be too heavy for Gem! She doesn't look in poor condition at all - I think you are worrying yourself over nothing!
 
how about long reining?? poles are a great way to build up mucsel on the back end from the pics theat look like where she has dropped the most??

some people may be against this... i had a tb x racer was dumped in a stable after being racing fit she was very unlevel on the back end.... 8 weeks of walking, i used some wrist weigts on her back legs over poles and gentle hill work, made a huge difference.

and dont forget feed, this can play a huge part aswell
 
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