[kierababy]

How much stall vs pasture time has he had in 3 years? How old is he, and what was his level of education 3 years ago?

He hasnt been stalled at all, he has been out on pasture, i believe that he is in a 15 acre field. I believe he is 15 and he is fully broke. He was a western pleasure horse actually had him 2 1/2 yrs ago when my mare foaled. So it really has only been 2 1/2 yrs. We had him for about 6 months before he was taken back.

A horse who has not been worked in 3 years is not going to be ready to go camping in 2 weeks, unless "camping" means an hour or less of walking a day and he's been out 24x7 for at least the last 6 months on a big, hilly pasture.

Lunging/riding starting right at an hour a day is asking for injury or soreness.

You start by walking for 20-30 minutes for the first week or so, at least. You work on his responsiveness and suppleness. You start adding a few minutes of trotting, increasing that by a couple of minutes every 3-4 days. You work up from there.

Each time you increase the intensity of the work, you decrease the time of the ride and work back up at that intensity. You can increase 1 or the other - intensity, or time - but not both.

The trails that we would be going on are not going to be hard at all. I will keep him very limited when we go. I dont have another horse to take as mine Is injured and there is no way she is going. I will slowly start to bring him back and he wont be doing anything strenous. I completely understand what you are saying.

[kierababy]

Just bumping this up

[MysticRealm]

I agree that I don't think he would be ready at all for that. When my horse had 6 weeks off last summer it took a full month for him to have some semblance of fitness back, and that was only with 6 weeks off. And of course he was not back in great shape for several months after.

[kierababy]

We picked him up yesterday and hes doing well. I rode him today for about 10 min and he was fine.

[JBandRio]

A 10 minute ride could be put on a just-broke 2yo and be "just fine."

It doesn't make the horse ready to go camping.

I don't think we know anything more about this trip, other than "not going to be hard at all" and "he wont be doing anything strenuous."

[kierababy]

I know that. I know where we are going camping at and it is mostly flat. There are a few hills, nothing big. He is not going to be pushed hard at all. If I feel that he isnt up to it or cant do it he will not go that day and I will stay at camp. I am fine with that.

[mftx4]

Not trying to start anything, but it sounds kinda like you've already made up your mind. It's like you sitting around for a year and then trying to run a merathon. You'll have to pace yourselves and be aware that he''ll get tired and sore if you overdo it. Hope things go ok.

[kierababy]

No I havent already made up my mind. We are taking it slow. I wouldnt be taking him to this camp if the trails werent easy. He most likely wont go everyday on the rides. He actually isnt in too bad shape considering everything. I have been longtrotting him a lot and he hardly ever breaks a sweat.

[mftx4]

Sounds like a good plan.

[kierababy]

Yup. I am not going to risk him getting hurt. We will not be cantering at all. Just long-trotting for quite a while.