what work do you/would you do with barely ridden horses?

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tinap

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By that I mean those that are ridden about once every 8 weeks ish or even less & have been for a very long time?

Just wondering what others views are after a conversation I had with a friend!
 
Thats only 6 rides a year:confused: they should not be doing any "work" if that is all they are doing just a gentle potter maybe but no more in my view.
 
That is exactly my view! A friend of my friends rides hers very rarely & she asked what I would do with it , To which I said I would treat it like it is out of work not having her in canter & hearing her coughing :-(

We're in the process of bringing ours back into work after 8 weeks off & have just started trotting after 4 weeks of walk. She was shocked we haven't got him jumping yet!!!
 
I assume the horse has a lack of Topline if it's worked that much?

I'd suggest gentle 10 minute walking on each rein on a Pessoa type lunging kit. You can pick up £30 ones from different on-line stores.

But echo what the others said, If the horse is worked that irregularly he should be doing no more than walk for a good few weeks.

Baby steps.

:)
 
If such a horse arrived here it would be ridden daily and taught straightaway to be led from another horse .
The first three days twenty minutes , then thirty working up to an hour and a half if time I would go twice a day I would also lead from another horse to keep him moving but keep him moving this would all be walking and I would do this for six weeks then I would gradually indroduce trotting for short periods then cantering then short periods of schooling lunging etc at twelve weeks I would expect the horse to be fit enough for most things.
 
Thanks, she has no interest in actually getting her fit, just riding her as though she is fit.

I haven't seen the horse, she just asked me why we are not jumping ours yet then preceded to tell me how much hers can do after 8-10weeks whatever off, although she does "cough a bit"!!
 
Sods law its yours that "breaks" and hers will be fine:( although in the long term it will probably suffer from ill health, the coughing is a sign its lungs are not coping and at some point it will find it hard to cope.

Glad your pony is coming along ok:)
 
Thanks BP! The daughter is over the moon that hes finally sound, although trying to keep him in walk & trot is a task in itself as he's just ready to explode & completely bored :D
 
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