What type of work for a fat 5yo?

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Bing184

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Hi, I have a 5yo (in May) ISH that is very fat, he is a chunky horse but is looking very fat right now, he doesn't have a lot of grass and is coming in at night. The question is how much work would you want your 5yo to do like fast work, schooling, roadwork etc? He is hacked out 4 times a week, for 30-40 mins on farm road and a few stubbles as that's all I've got but it's fine for what I'm doing, he's schooled once a week sometimes twice if we have a lesson, and a competition at weekend sometimes (intro test). I'm not too keen about cantering him about everywhere and doing lots of trotting on roads as he's not strong enough yet and not fit. Should I just keep doing what I'm doing or start doing some harder work and more faster stuff? Thanks 😊
 
I would be increasing the time not the speed until he is fitter, 30-40 mins is nothing really unless you have decent hills to use, I would be getting out for 1-11/2 hours 4 times a week if possible to increase his fitness, if lacking time then do longer hacks at the weekends and keep the short hacks for when you lack time, if you are really limited with hacking options then go round twice once each way to mix it up or hack after/ before a schooling session so you are riding for longer.
 
I don't have any great hills which doesn't help either, I will try going round fields twice and mixing it up a bit. There is a village and lots of better roads I could be hacking on but he has just started hacking on his own and I'm always worried about stupid drivers, especially with a young horse. Thanks
 
I would start increasing the length of the hacks where possible to at least an hour. You won't have to do lots of faster work at all, just make sure he's walking out properly and that should do the trick. Do you have any decent hills near you?

ETA cross posted, just seen that you don't have many hills. Make good use of the ones you have and try to extend your hacking route.
 
i don't have any hills near me, there are some in the village but we haven't been down yet, we've not been around much traffic either. I am planning on getting him out on the roads.
 
Work over raised poles is useful if you dont have hills, leave them set up if you can and do a bit over them most days, even just walking over them will make them work harder than just walking in the arena.
 
As a chunky ISH owner i can understand the battle with their weight. Hacking for such a short period in my opinion is quite leisurely though and not intensive enough to work the body - like suggested i would either increase the time or school when your out and about. You dont need to be going faster, just asking a little more out of him. Leg yield, transitions, extend/collect. Give him something to think about other than strolling along :) Make sure the gait is nice and forward and you're using the time/route effectively. Alternatively school for 10/15mins and then hack out as a reward.

Lunging is a life saver for me and my mare. Raised poles, pessoa, free schooling, le trec... we never do anything twice in a week so there's always something different and exciting :) Nothing needs to be long/intense for the age. It may look silly but my girl loves to follow me in the field so i go for a jog and she trots behind- helps us both tone up :')
 
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