Getting a Horse back in shape

kierababy · 06-25-2009, 10:28 PM

I am getting a new horse on Monday and He hasnt been used in 3 yrs. What should I do to start getting him back in shape? On july 7th we will be going camping with our horses and I would like him to be in a little bit better shape by then!

Babeesgirl · 06-25-2009, 10:30 PM

Lunge exercises just riding an hr a day,
Put him on some other feed, get some IDea from ur vet about feed for him to gain weight.
=)
Good luck

kierababy · 06-25-2009, 10:32 PM

He is fat and healthy and doesnt need to gain any more weight. He just hasnt been used at all.

JBandRio · 06-26-2009, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kierababy

I am getting a new horse on Monday and He hasnt been used in 3 yrs.

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?

Quote:

What should I do to start getting him back in shape? On july 7th we will be going camping with our horses and I would like him to be in a little bit better shape by then!

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.

scnobia · 06-26-2009, 06:08 AM

To get your horse back in shape, you should lunge him before you ride. Also, try to find a hill that you can work you horse on. Trotting and cantering uphill is great for horse's stiffles.

Luna9 · 06-26-2009, 06:17 AM

Just watch you dont do to much cause you can hurt/strain him if you work him to hard to quickly.

Auzzie Honey · 06-26-2009, 07:18 AM

JB has worded it perfectly

katydid · 06-26-2009, 09:31 AM

I have seen this link posted on another internet board, and I find it very helpful and informative.

notanumber · 06-26-2009, 10:10 AM

What kind of camping? I think it's unrealistic to expect a horse to be in good enough shape to go for a 2-3 hour trek or more in less than two weeks. If you had just been puttering around the house for 3 years and nothing more, you'd take more than a couple weeks to get in shape for a hike.
Otherwise, ditto what JB said.

mftx4 · 06-26-2009, 10:23 AM

I agree with the rest. My horses don't normally get used from late Nov. until early March and we do a 'get back in shape' routine then. After 3 years, it would be like starting over. Just a wild guess, but I would think it would take 3 to 4 weeks to get him in shape for his first 3 to 4 hour ride.

06-25-2009, 10:28 PM	#1
kierababy Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Happy Valley, Ca Posts: 4,002 Images: 1245 Blog Entries: 2	Getting a Horse back in shape I am getting a new horse on Monday and He hasnt been used in 3 yrs. What should I do to start getting him back in shape? On july 7th we will be going camping with our horses and I would like him to be in a little bit better shape by then! __________________ I dont Forgive people because I am weak. I forgive them because I am strong enough to know people make mistakes. Sexy by ChristmasChallenge-r!! Start: 153 Goal: 130 CURRENT: 2 lbs LOST

06-25-2009, 10:30 PM	#2
Babeesgirl Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Horse-world Posts: 3,636 Images: 1 Blog Entries: 3	Lunge exercises just riding an hr a day, Put him on some other feed, get some IDea from ur vet about feed for him to gain weight. =) Good luck __________________ I got love from a horse and a boy

06-25-2009, 10:32 PM	#3
kierababy Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Happy Valley, Ca Posts: 4,002 Images: 1245 Blog Entries: 2	He is fat and healthy and doesnt need to gain any more weight. He just hasnt been used at all. __________________ I dont Forgive people because I am weak. I forgive them because I am strong enough to know people make mistakes. Sexy by ChristmasChallenge-r!! Start: 153 Goal: 130 CURRENT: 2 lbs LOST

06-26-2009, 06:17 AM	#6
Luna9 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,991	Just watch you dont do to much cause you can hurt/strain him if you work him to hard to quickly. __________________ Roscoe ~ 4yr Paint - 15.3HH Luna ~ 1yr Quarter Horse - 14.2HH Sunny 1yr Paint - 14.1HH Sydney 7m - Yellow Lab Jasper ~ 6m - Cat & Im a Mommy & a Wife! CHECK OUT MY TURN OUT BLANKET FOR SALE

06-26-2009, 07:18 AM	#7
Auzzie Honey Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: WA, Australia Posts: 1,002 Images: 11	JB has worded it perfectly __________________ Training Sessions -- interesting, challenging and achievable. Don't complicate it any more than that. xx Jess, Honey, Jeddai, Jock, Sambo & Buxton xx

06-26-2009, 06:08 AM	#5
scnobia Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 14 Images: 1	To get your horse back in shape, you should lunge him before you ride. Also, try to find a hill that you can work you horse on. Trotting and cantering uphill is great for horse's stiffles.

06-26-2009, 09:31 AM	#8
katydid Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 624	I have seen this link posted on another internet board, and I find it very helpful and informative.

06-26-2009, 10:10 AM	#9
notanumber Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 939 Images: 76	What kind of camping? I think it's unrealistic to expect a horse to be in good enough shape to go for a 2-3 hour trek or more in less than two weeks. If you had just been puttering around the house for 3 years and nothing more, you'd take more than a couple weeks to get in shape for a hike. Otherwise, ditto what JB said.

06-26-2009, 10:23 AM	#10
mftx4 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cordova, Ill. Posts: 1,994 Images: 43	I agree with the rest. My horses don't normally get used from late Nov. until early March and we do a 'get back in shape' routine then. After 3 years, it would be like starting over. Just a wild guess, but I would think it would take 3 to 4 weeks to get him in shape for his first 3 to 4 hour ride.

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