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Discussion on How should I start to condition my overweight pony?
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New Member:
Debbdel
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 3:07 pm:
My 11 year old POA gelding has gained weight over the past year due to my lack of time to work with him. Now that I have the time I would like to get him back in condition so that I will be able to ride him. My question is: What would be the best way to start conditioning him?
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Member:
Green007
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 3:26 pm:
Same as with out of shape people - short walks followed by longer walks, followed by even longer walks, preferably up hills.
His heart and lungs need to be conditioned as well as his muscles, so start slowly and work your way up. After several weeks you can add trotting, and eventually cantering. Listen to your horse. If he breathes or sweats heavily at the walk, don't move up to trot. Once he is trotting, time his trot to make sure you aren't doing more than 4 or 5 minutes to start, and work your way up to longer trot sets.
Take your time. Patience will result in a happier, more sound horse as he goes back to work.
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Member:
Brandi
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 3:46 pm:
It very much depends on his past and current activity level, and just how overweight he is. I'm sure others can offer more detailed advice, but I'll tell you what I have been doing. If he's pastured and moves around most of the time, I wouldn't think anything of 45-60 minutes at the walk for a couple of weeks (5 rides each week), then add 5 minutes of trotting every two weeks until he's able to do 30 minutes of trotting (broken up into small segments, with 15 minutes minimum warm-up and cool down). After that, back down the trotting and add some cantering in 2-5 minute blocks. Be sure at all times in the first months that he doesn't start to blow hard, but he should be tired at the end, and I always let his breathing recover before moving on to another block of speed. If he's in really bad shape he'll be tired and breathing a bit hard at the end of the 45-60 minute walks. Keeping tabs on heartrate recovery is very good, but in the interest of ease, I watch breathing very carefully, because it's easy to see.
There is a really good rehab program under Horseadvice.com » Equine Diseases » Lameness » Treatment Methods » that is just a safe and sensible rehab for many situations. You would just need to decide where to start (for instance hand-walking may not be necessary for your horse's current condition).
I am using this program with a mare who hasn't been ridden for a year and has been pastured, not overweight, but has extensive scarring to a hind leg due to an injury 7 years ago.
Good luck with your POA
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2005 - 6:59 am:
Hello Everyone, we have better programs for non-injured horses at Training Horses » Training Your Horse's Body » Exercise Physiology and Conditioning. It has a basic return to work program then 3 different programs based on the eventual goals for the horse.
DrO
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