Bringing A Horse Back Up To Speed

[JBJ]

My boy Major has been sick lately, but is making a comeback! The vet has approved riding as long as I condition him slowly. He is 20, so jumping is out of the question. I mainly do dressage. Anyone have any good exercises that I won't need a nice arena for? Should I get some crossrails(not for jumping, just ground-work)? I'm a really boring rider :lol:! I don't really do much variety, but would like to! Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks!

JBJ

P.S. This weekend he will be going for a saddle fitting to make him nice and comfy !

[dandeliontwine]

A while ago I compiled a bunch of info about reconditioning after time off...sources vary - mostly agriculteral extension info from the u.s.

I jogged my horse in hand for a long time to help build muscles and confidence and keep him exercised...wasn't bad for me either!  

I hope this helps.

~Wendy


Reconditioning a Horse after period off work .

For every week off work, plan two weeks of conditioning.

From unfitness (6 months or less off work) to total fitness plan 30 days long slow work, then and additional 60 days of conditioning to develop musculature.

To develop fast twitch fibers, sudden stopping, and backing are short duration exercises that develop these fibers.

Rehabilitation from total rest (more than 6 months off work):
A.   begin 20 minutes of hand walking/hot walker each day, increasing to one hour per day over 60 days (adding in about 5 min each week)
B.   Two months riding at walk, begin with 20 minutes increasing by about 5 min/week up to an hour.
C.   Add 5min trotting, increase trotting by 5 min. increments every two weeks for 60 days
D.   Add cantering 5 min, increase 5 min increments every two weeks for 60 days
E.   Full flat work 60 days
F.   Full training (jumping, racing, xcountry etc)
G.   Horse should be ready for competition.

Notes:  Add trotting in short, 30-60sec. intervals at first rather than a full five minutes in a row, with 1-2 minutes of walk in between.  Same with cantering.

Signs of stress, overwork and fatigue:
A.   Change of stride
B.   Speeding up
C.   Nose out
D.   Stress (individual to horse)

Legging up/Long Slow distance work:
A.   Builds cardio fitness + musculoskeletal tolerance
B.   5-6x/week for 3-4 weeks
C.   6-12 months up to 45-60min @ walk; adding trot, canter 5-6 mph as per the schedule above; plus 2-3min canter 10-12mph
D.   Shoot for 150-170 bpm (beats per minute) = trot or slow canter – fast canter
E.   Check bpm 2min after exercise should be 100bpm or less and less than 60bpm within 10min.

Breezing:
A.   Speedwork/Sprints
B.   10min (up to 20 for the older horse) walk plus 2min trot plus fast canter 30-60 sec.
C.   Back to trot (2min), back to walk(10min)
D.   Repeat, starting second week, adding 1 repeat/week.

Interval Training/Sharpening
A.   1-2 days/week do a harder workout: see breezing or include trot/walk/trot/canter/trot/walk sessions
B.   Pole bending, barrel racing/jumping
C.   Include one day of R&R (although a very hard work out needs a two day rest), and some flat work during the week


Soft tissues NOTES:
A.   It takes 6mos-1year to rebuild heart, muscles
B.   1-2 years to rebuild tendons, ligaments
C.   3 years to rebuild bones

Dehydration: Use pinch test on skin at back of neck


Always warm down with light work to minimize soreness.

[Numbat]

Teaching your horse to chase a ball around with his nose (you can keep him on a loose lead if you don't have an enclosed space) is a fun way of getting him to do stretches without pressure.