Thought of the day.............

[Bug2007]

So just one of those little things that pop into your head!!!!.....

If you have a horse that has had a break (not injury related) over the winter or just time off, you get the horse fit again, by starting in walk and building it up to a few hours in walk then introducing trot etc... then going on until you are jumping in five to eight weeks time.......(I know this varies with easch horse etc... but general rules)

So why is it when you break and back (start) a horse or pony...for arguments sake lets say at four....we all know to start them slow we don't do two much time wise...three four times a week maybe for twenty mins or so, but it seems to me that the trot and canter work starts quickly (lunging mainly)...and if you are lucky enough to have a super well behaved horse then poles and jumps introduced.....

So my point is why a horse that has been out of work for say four months on holiday takes about 6 weeks to start jumping again (not fully fit) yet a well behaved horse that has never been ridden could be jumping with in 3 weeks.

So I know the work that goes into a horse is to strengthen the legs etc.... surely a horse that has never been ridden needs more time than one that has been ridden before.....just thinking!!!

 

[kerilli]

i've thought about this too, esp in relation to the way Monty Roberts works backers HARD for 20-30 mins in a small round pen, sometimes until they're lathered... must be a LOT of stress on young tendons, ligaments, muscles.
as regards backing - usually the horse is going to be ridden by someone pretty lightweight, for short periods, at slowish speeds (well, that's the intention anyway) so the fitness isn't so important. i think the rider's safety is paramount, and lungeing first to see if there are any bucks etc in there, and as a general attitude-checker, is a good idea. if they go nuts on the lunge i wince, but i'd rather they did it without me trying to stay in the plate...
obv it's safer to do that slow work with older horses, usually anyway.
i would not want to get on straight on a backer and try to do 4 weeks of walking, put it that way... boredom might lead to some interesting moments.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Once started after fittening lunging and long lining, I spend most of my time hacking out, mostly walking with little trots every now and again. My focus is on making it interesting,going forwards, confidence building and learning to balance with a rider over different terrain, walking over foot bridges, through fords and mud, long grass etc and little hills. Canter and 20 metre circles are not on my agenda in the first weeks.

 

[Bug2007]

All good points was juat a pondering really.....

You say walk is good for older horse but mine is only young!!! I'll be bringing her back into work like a hunter/race horse getting fit.....If i was just backing her would i do it different!!!?????