The Beginging

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Rockchick_uk

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Walsall, West Midlands
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Well today was the first day of Indianas Fitness Programe.

I have got to take things very slowly with him as rushing him and pushing may cause his leg to go again, something im not prepared for him to go through.

Today i just lunged him using side reins, cavason and Roller. I made sure that the reins themselves were loose enough not to restrict him or force him to lower his head but he was still able to feel very slight contact.

Indi being half ex racer and half giraffe will not naturally go in a outline, hes a typical head up nose out kinda boy but today just having that very slight contact made him actually work through his entire body, something i have never ever seen him do!.

The programe we are on at the moment is: 10 mins walk, 5 mins working trot, 5 mins walk on both reins. And im pleased to see that Indi was fine, no lameness (although was slightly stiff on his left rein at first but gradually loosened up).

I know that this may not seem like anything major but its the first step to getting Indi fit and healthy again so to me it means alot.

Tomorrow he will be lunged again and Friday i will take him in to the school and work on walk to trot transitions as well as pleantly of turns and serpentines to help his balance and flexibility etc.

If anyone can think of more exercises or anything that i can use in our schooling work please feel free to let me know as i need to build it up gradually but the work itself needs to be varied.
 
Can you not hack him? I've always thought that lunging and school work puts more pressure on legs. When I brought my old racehorse back into work after a horrific tendon injury I walked him on the roads for 6 months. He never broke down again and went on to event at intermediate level.
 
He has spent the last 3 months being gently hacked around the local area, my vet has suggested introducing more indepth work such as very light schooling (walk & trot Only) to help build up his muscles and improve his balance.

Indi will continue to be hacked as part of the programe but for now im looking more at what i can do at home etc.
 
Oh sorry - I thought he was just coming back into work from scratch
smile.gif
I did pretty much what you've said after the walking and built it up very slowly. He had such a good walk and halt by his first event!
 
Even if youre not riding or lunging, you can do exercises on the floor like using carrots to encourage him to stretch around to his quarters each side and the get him to stretch down in between his front legs.
It wont put any strain on the legs but is very beneficial to them. Can you long rein him out?
 
Work him from the ground. Hold the rein up near the bit and tweak his head down and nose out and make him walk like that for 5-10 mins before you get on- it really helps them to get the idea of stretching down without having a battle with you on-board!!
 
I will be trying to do carrot stretches etc but knowing Indi if i dont make it easy for him he just gives up.

I have tried long reining him but because he obviously has never done alot of it hes a bit clueless, although saying that i suppose this would be the opportunity to practice lol.
 
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