Schooling tips for bringing a horse back into work

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Abbydeanna

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I have recently started loaning a 10y/o mare, tb X Connemara. She hasn't had much done with her over the past few years. I'm wanting some tips and good exercises to get her schooling nicely. Any advice would be appreciated! :) thanks
 
I would treat her as if she was totally unfit, she sounds lovely :)

So walking for a month out hacking, then introduce some trotting out hacking over the next month. Towards the end of the month start doing some pole work, raised and on a circle etc. Start cantering in the third.

You can assess how fit she is and how she is coping with the increase in work by watching how quickly she recovers once you step up the work :)
 
Demented Elf said:
I would treat her as if she was totally unfit, she sounds lovely :)

So walking for a month out hacking, then introduce some trotting out hacking over the next month. Towards the end of the month start doing some pole work, raised and on a circle etc. Start cantering in the third.

You can assess how fit she is and how she is coping with the increase in work by watching how quickly she recovers once you step up the work :)
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Thanks! I have had her on part loan for 2 weeks now and have been doing some light school work- walking and trotting 20m circles, serpentines in walk, figure of 8 movements.

Also started hacking this week on her as well. Before starting canter work on her, would it be best to establish her walk and trot on both reins? :)
 
Agree with the advice....

Also, make sure you warm up and cool down in any schooling sessions, and spend 5 minutes at the end doing some stretching which will help with suppleness and flexibility.

Do everything the same on both reins. It's likely she will be better on one than the other but make sure you don't just stick to the good side! My mare is terrible bending on the right rein which makes her trot far less comfy but still has to be done for balance

When hacking, try to find some nice hills which will help build up her hindquarters

Good luck and enjoy her! She sounds lovely 😊
 
Maesto's Girl said:
Agree with the advice....

Also, make sure you warm up and cool down in any schooling sessions, and spend 5 minutes at the end doing some stretching which will help with suppleness and flexibility.

Do everything the same on both reins. It's likely she will be better on one than the other but make sure you don't just stick to the good side! My mare is terrible bending on the right rein which makes her trot far less comfy but still has to be done for balance

When hacking, try to find some nice hills which will help build up her hindquarters

Good luck and enjoy her! She sounds lovely 😊
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Thanks for the advice! I will stick to what I'm doing with her now then! She is a sweet mare, very kind and tries her best!

Would you recommend lunging her? Or best to just school her as I am doing. She seems to be responding well but I don't know if the lunging would be beneficial in her case!

:)
 
Don't lunge yet - too hard on an unfit horse - follow the excellent advice above re. hacking before you do anything in the school as unfit horse + schooling/lunging = increased risk of injury. Remember to include very frequent periods of walking/stretching once you do start schooling as she won't be strong enough to maintain anything for very long at all and that's when they start to get resistant/strained. Enjoy :)
 
Lulup said:
Don't lunge yet - too hard on an unfit horse - follow the excellent advice above re. hacking before you do anything in the school as unfit horse + schooling/lunging = increased risk of injury. Remember to include very frequent periods of walking/stretching once you do start schooling as she won't be strong enough to maintain anything for very long at all and that's when they start to get resistant/strained. Enjoy :)
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I thought that may be the case! What would you say is the best amount of time to be schooling for, at her level of fitness?
 
Abbydeanna said:
I thought that may be the case! What would you say is the best amount of time to be schooling for, at her level of fitness?
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None, as you have repeatedly been advised. She is weak and unfit. You may break her if you insist on schooling her in her current state.

Get her fit first by hacking her out in straight lines as advised above. Stay in walk for a month, then introduce trot, and gradually build it up. She will become much stronger and better muscled, and better able to carry you.

After 8 weeks or so of regular, consistent hacking work you can think of taking her in the school, but again for short periods at first.
 
Tiddlypom said:
None, as you have repeatedly been advised. She is weak and unfit. You may break her if you insist on schooling her in her current state.

Get her fit first by hacking her out in straight lines as advised above. Stay in walk for a month, then introduce trot, and gradually build it up. She will become much stronger and better muscled, and better able to carry you.

After 8 weeks or so of regular, consistent hacking work you can think of taking her in the school, but again for short periods at first.
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Apologies, that last message was meant to say the best amount of time for hacking, not schooling!:rolleyes:
 
Abbydeanna said:
Apologies, that last message was meant to say the best amount of time for hacking, not schooling!:rolleyes:
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Ah, ok, sorry for the misunderstanding :).

I'd start off at 30 minutes a day for 5 or 6 days a week. Frequent short hacks are better than infrequent long ones, though at this time of year it can be very difficult to fit them in around work.

Circular routes are much the best if you've got the choice. After a fortnight or so, if all is well and you and the horse is coping ok, you can start building up the time out to a minimum of an hour. At that point, I'd start introducing some school work.

Good luck.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Ah, ok, sorry for the misunderstanding :).

I'd start off at 30 minutes a day for 5 or 6 days a week. Frequent short hacks are better than infrequent long ones, though at this time of year it can be very difficult to fit them in around work.

Circular routes are much the best if you've got the choice. After a fortnight or so, if all is well and you and the horse is coping ok, you can start building up the time out to a minimum of an hour. At that point, I'd start introducing some school work.

Good luck.
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Excellent. I will post back in the next few weeks to let you know how we are progressing.

Thanks for your help, it is appreciated! :)
 
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