Conditioning Questions

[Sparrowette]

I moved my mare to a new barn, and some other things in my life have at least stabilized. New barn has a much larger arena and is easier for me to get to. So, now that she is moved, and I’m working with her, I know that since she’s been off for a while, she will need to be brought into work intelligently.

That’s not me.

Right now, it’s really hot out and that gets to me, and I think her too. I was totally wiped all day after being in the round pen with her Sat. morning. The rest of Sat. was just there… She was pretty good, she let me throw a leg over the top of her from me climbing up the fence, and that surprised me. She was warm, and really, really liked the bath afterward I think, but not the worming medicine later (even though the apple flavor was supposed to go over well). Anyway, I digress…

What would be a good way to bring back a horse and rider who have both been off for a bit? Do I just go how I feel, and call that good for her too? How many times a week and how long? What sort of work? (I’m in my early 60’s and she’s 7.)

How do you tell what condition a horse is in? Do I need to check her pulse or just go by how hard she’s breathing?

(???)

And I’ve gotta’ get back on top. But conquering myself is another issue.

All help appreciated…

[VTMorgan06]

http://jecballou.com/online-shop/#!/~/product/category=2467897&id=10491178

Jec Ballou has a great book called Equine Fitness. In it she has a 10 week exercise program schedule that you can follow.

Obviously, use your own discretion regarding weather, if it’s a super hot day maybe take it a little easier.

[asterix]

It depends on what you mean by “off for a bit” – completely out of work, or partially? A month or 6 months? Turned out in a large area with others, or mostly in a stall?
If you’ve both been truly off work for a substantial time, best to start with walking. Not a good idea to start with lunging since that puts a lot of stress on tendons and ligaments that are not strong.
But it really depends on where you are starting from.

[GotSpots]

A lot depends on, as Asterix noted, where you’re starting from. But in general, I start most horses the same way: with walking under tack, NOT in the roundpen. I don’t disagree that the roundpen and lunging do offer benefits in some situations, but just going around for a morning spin as an effort to leg up a horse isn’t really one of them - you’re less likely to have control or be building strength/balance, and more likely to be stressing the horse’s soft tissue with out-of-balance stop-start-stop-starts.

So if you’re both out of shape, tack her up and take her for a walk. In the arena is fine, if that’s where your comfort level is. Out on a walking hack with a couple of friends is even better. Depending how unfit she (and you) are, I’d start with 10-15 minutes of walking every day, and build it up by 5-10 minutes per week until you’re comfortably both walking 30-40 minutes. Then add in some trotting in the ring and go from there. If you’re nervous about riding her, then consider if there is a trainer who might help you leg her back up so that you get more comfortable; if she’s inclined to be particularly stupid in her first few hacks, then go with a safe, steady-eddie friend (or ask your vet whether she might be a suitable candidate for a little ace before her initial hacks).