Winter Exercise

J

JosieSmith

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I know there's been some posts about this already, but I'm after some opinions.

I have a 20yr old and I'm worried she'll get stiff if I'm not riding regularly. She currently gets ridden 3/4 times a week, with never more than 2 days off at a time if I can help it. She's not fit enough to be ridden more than this and we're only really doing very light hacking, schooling and the odd teeny jumping course once a week.

Over winter I will only be able to hack out at weekends due to working full time, and I usually ride in the school after work as it's the only place with lights. However, YO recently started a riding school and the school is in use most nights now. So, I'm a bit worried that if the school is in use at night and I can't ride all week, will she get stiff, and is there any other way of exercising her? One lesson leads into another so I can't even nip in the school between lessons.

Thanks in advance
 
How much turnout will she have in winter? I would say if she has daily turnout to stretch her legs she shouldn't get that stiff
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If shes having daily turn out I would be too worried. Alternativly you could pop her on a mobility supplement.
Mobility by dodson and horrel is good, As is Glucosamine and MSM.
Lou x
 
Oops, forgot to mention that. Providing she doesn't get mud fever again (in which case she'll not be rideable anyway) yes she'll have daily turnout, just in overnight.

Think I will try a supplement too though, thanks.
 
Josie, Go on ebay and search 'Pig oil and sulphur' You clean the legs, and leave overnight to dry, then you rub a GOOD amount of the pig oil into the legs, It is AMAZING at preventing mud rash/fever.

Lou x
 
Ooo, brill. She got it so bad last year the vet had to come out, sedate her and clip it all off, poor thing!
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(this happened before I got her btw!)

She's got turnout boots this year and they seem to be doing well (keeping her legs lovely and grey!) but it's not really bad weather yet so I'll give that a try too, poor thing will be up the eyeballs in lotions, oils and booties!
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Hmm.. Sounds a bit drastic but I would want to move yards if I couldn't get in the school in the week, especially as you are paying for the facilities!

But, yeah turnout should do the trick and do you have quiet lane you could hi-vis yourself up to the eyeballs, or is it actually dark by the time you get to the yard?
xxx
 
At the minute there's still some light if I rush there but soon enough it's going to be pitch black by the time I arrive. YO is hoping to start tailing the lessons off at about 4pm so fingers crossed the school should be free most nights.

The yard is brill when there's plenty of light as they have loads of fields to ride in and they have jumps you can move from field to field if necessary, but I agree that I'm paying for the facilities so should be able to use them. Last year was fine but this will be the first winter since YO opened riding school so I suppose I'll have to wait and see how it plays out
 
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