unfit pony - Wanting to do a 4 mile hack?

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Anna2015

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My niece is getting a loan pony this weekend. He hasnt done anything in over a year and hes over weight.

My niece is 10 years old and a complete beginner so we will be starting with nice slow short hacks maybe twice/three times a week. She will be lead reined.

Her friend has her own horse but her yard is 4 miles away. We plan on meeting up half way so will be 2 miles there and 2 miles back at just walk. My question is - Does anyone have a plan I could follow? or some advice about starting him off as I said he is over weight. Hes a 9 year old Section B. Obviously I don't want to push him but also unsure on how much I can ask of him.
 
Mine just looks at food and gains weight. She's only been out for summer turn out for a week and I feel like she's put on all the weight she lost over winter (We had to put a fair bit of effort in). I exaggerate but you get my point.

When my pony was a little bit over weight I was loosing her/lunging her in a ho/schooling her. This is where mine got the majority of her fitness from. I found that the ho was one of my best allies in getting the weight off though. It's a good way of getting them to move and work but also build muscle along their back and getting them to move in a correct outline. Maybe start off on short ten minute sessions and work up to 20, 30 minutes? Obviously don't lunge too often as you don't want to bore the poor lad/give his joints havoc. Maybe break it up with lead rein sessions in the school and some shorter hacks? The pony might need to get a little bit of a relationship going with your niece too. So doing some fun little activities in the school would be ace!


It's like us going to the gym after Christmas (ha!) You start off small and build it up. You wouldn't go into the gym for the first time and expect to lift 200kg. The same applies for our little friends. Build it up lightly and go from there. He'll hopefully drop the weight when he's brought into frequent work.

You probably know a lot more than I do on the subject, but all the best of luck for your niece and her lovely new friend!
 
If he has lived out for the time off work 4 miles in walk should be fine as long as the rider is a suitable weight. Ponies living out maintain residual fitness and can do a fair bit straight off. He has been confined to a barn that is a different matter and he will need to start really slowly
 
If the pony has been at grass all this time then I would not worry about his fitness - he can certainly walk 4 miles.
However if the pony has had no training at all since last year, I would check that he has not developed any vices since then.
I've ridden a horse who had not been trained for many months and it made it very clear to me that I was not wanted on its back. It took two to hold him down for me to get on. :D
 
I think he will be fine if his unshod though he may get a bit footsore if your walking on the road or stony ground so maybe pick your route wisely if you can.
 
Kezzabell2 said:
my horse easily does 10 miles without shoes, without becoming footsore!
Click to expand...

But I'm assuming that your horse is in work? Feet will stand up to what they are used to - I don't think it's inconceivable that an unfit pony who has been stood in a field for several months might become footsore after suddenly doing roadwork. I would imagine that the pony will be fine if his hooves are of reasonable quality, but I don't think it's silly to consider that he may not be.
 
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