Where do I start again...

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

I have been meaning to get my pony back fit again for months now! (I don't compete this one) he a gypsy cob and is of course naturally 'big boned' so he's not as fat as I think he is, but he is still fat, and I have no idea how long it will take to get him fit. Any ideas for exercises to do in a makeshift arena/ fenced off bit of field?

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

Preferably not jumping exercises yet... Still very naughty with jumping

 

[maya2008]

How fit is he now?

 

[Widgeon]

I know this not what you asked (sorry!) but can you hack him, or at least walk him in hand? Going out for lots of walking would probably be a better way to start than exercises in an arena.

 

[Peglo]

I’m just starting mine up after months off. I’m starting with mainly hacks in hand and a little bit of walking pole work. My aim was to start short rides after 3 weeks if she feels like she’s getting fit quick enough. If not I will just keep lengthening her hacks in hand.

 

[AmyMay]

Providing your saddle still fits, get on and start with gentle hacking in walk, building up the time from 20 minutes daily for the first 7 days to half an hour by week two. And so on.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Providing your saddle still fits, get on and start with gentle hacking in walk, building up the time from 20 minutes daily for the first 7 days to half an hour by week two. And so on.

I second this…. Was going to say the very same

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

How fit is he now?

Well I would love to say he is fit, but he is actually very unfit all my fault to be honest

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

I know this not what you asked (sorry!) but can you hack him, or at least walk him in hand? Going out for lots of walking would probably be a better way to start than exercises in an arena.

Yes! I have been riding him , but definitely not very heavy work

 

[SantaVera]

lots of walking preferably whilst hacking. start with half ann hour walking and work up to 2 hours a day over a period of approx 4 weeks then introduce some trotting, short bursts , then as time goes on increase the trotting distance then after 6 to 8 weeks introduce canter .

 

[maya2008]

Without much info on what he can do now, I would just say to hack a little further each day, slowly introducing more trot until you are trotting for most of the ride, then adding canter and slowly increasing that.

Once your horse is comfortably hacking for at least 40mins in mostly trot and canter, you can start schooling to build up the flexibility and the canter fitness. It’s all on the principle of just a little more each day. No rush, listen to your horse, be aware of how much energy they have and if they need a day off or a slower day.

 

[gallopingby]

Traditionally getting hunters fit it was at least two weeks walking then introducing short spells of trotting building up over the next two weeks starting short canters in week five or six, all hacking out, not going round in circles on a surface. Five or six days a week with a rest day.

 

[dorsetladette]

It really all depends what you need him fit for? If he's living out, you'll probably find he isn't much 'less fit' than your average hacking horse.

As he's 'still naughty with jumping exercises' I'd assume he is young? would I be right? in which case hacking is your friend. Lots of miles under the belts of green ponies builds natural fitness and helps with balance and confidence.

Also remenber cobs in general don't mature fully until 7/8 years old (sometimes later) so lots of circles on surfaces is not good for young joints (or minds).

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

It really all depends what you need him fit for? If he's living out, you'll probably find he isn't much 'less fit' than your average hacking horse.

As he's 'still naughty with jumping exercises' I'd assume he is young? would I be right? in which case hacking is your friend. Lots of miles under the belts of green ponies builds natural fitness and helps with balance and confidence.

Also remenber cobs in general don't mature fully until 7/8 years old (sometimes later) so lots of circles on surfaces is not good for young joints (or minds).

Oh no, no, he's almost 17 but hesnt really done THAT much in the past 6-7 years just hacking really

 

[dorsetladette]

Oh no, no, he's almost 17 but hesnt really done THAT much in the past 6-7 years just hacking really

Oh OK. My misunderstanding.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Assuming he's not lame, saddle fits etc. Then I would hack 5 x a week starting with 20-30 mins walk and adding 10 mins each week. Once you're at 50 mins of walk I'd drop down to 30 mins walk and add in 5 mins of trot. Add 5-10 mins of trot each week till you're trotting 20 mins then add in 5 mins of canter. Then start adding in some school work, some poles etc.

This is basically what I've just done with my mare coming round from KS surgery. My mare has always been the wrong side of chunky (a native that loves her grass) but she looked brilliant just in the walk work. Walk is so underrated!

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

Thankyou all! I just hacked him out a few hours ago and we did walk and trot and a little canter, he has been in work and we've been doing that for a while now, I was more wondering what kind of activities I can do to keep him happy and not getting bored Xx

 

[AmyMay]

Thankyou all! I just hacked him out a few hours ago and we did walk and trot and a little canter, he has been in work and we've been doing that for a while now, I was more wondering what kind of activities I can do to keep him happy and not getting bored Xx

I’ve never found any of my horses get bored out hacking. Variety is the key. Different routes etc.

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

I’ve never found any of my horses get bored out hacking. Variety is the key. Different routes etc.

Thats the problem, we don't have many different hacks around, and at the moment I just don't have the time to go in the box somewhere

 

[HollyWoozle]

Could you do more transitions to keep him busy and active? Do some of the routes in reverse sometimes too? Or perhaps find some places along the way on your hack where you can try some different exercises like shoulder in. etc to mix it up a bit.

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

Could you do more transitions to keep him busy and active? Do some of the routes in reverse sometimes too? Or perhaps find some places along the way on your hack where you can try some different exercises like shoulder in. etc to mix it up a bit.

That's a good idea, thankyou