Re: Fitness Programme

Walk Walk Walk and more walking your horse has had a serious injury any type of fracture there will be a weakness. i would start with only 20mins if you havent got a small block you can go around then i would lead on foot so your horse will not get to nap.

My 24yr old who is my Advanced Endurance horse and was competing at the time upto 160km when he snapped both his front check ligerments 10yrs ago my vet said he never been ridden again let alone compete. He was on 6months box rest then 6 months feild (small feild an acre) rest.

If he has any time off work now even if its only a few weeks i always start from scratch with 6 weeks walk work working with 20mins upto an hour plus then add trot over a further 3 weeks and then canter.

When he had his accident I made him up a very stricted fitness routine and within 2yrs later he was back out competing in Endurance and upto 160km.

I will say on my side of things it was very boring as it was a lot of walking, i started with 20mins working upto an hour all in hand this took me 3 weeks to do then i started to ride him but just staying in walk but working upto 4hrs i did this for nearly 6months then add trot in again slowly and then canter it took me a yr to get him back fit BUT he has never had any problem with lameness or his legs.

I Know walking is very boring but its so good for them and i think people do for get this.  I wouldnt o any schooling or lunging until you have done a bit of hacking

If you would like a hand with a program feel free to PM me and i be more then happy to write you one out.

Re: Fitness Programme

Ya it should be but i would walk for more like 4/6wks as your horse has had a fracture splint bone building it up to your hour and half in this time then add trot slowly I know its boring and you want to get out and about for the summer but if you rush it you could end up with no horse for the summer. As you havent got anywhere for canter ya school be fine just keep it large no 20m circles or anything schooling. If your starting the fitness now i wouldnt even think about canter until Aug and not to school or lunge until Sep I know it sounds a long time but if you rush you could do more damage then good. If you can get down to a beach salt water is fab for horses legs all you have to do is walk in it if not buy some sea salt put a table spoon in half bucket of warm water and bath there legs in this. I dig out the program i did with my old boy for you and pm you with it over the weekend (as im working until 11pm this week) in the mean time i would just do 20min walk