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Elite Veteran
Posts: 658
  
Location: Bessmer City NC | ive had him about 3 months and hes muscling up finally I get to ride 3-5 days a week. hes 8 appendix bred out of chicks beduino. what are some things I can do to help just get him fit and muscled more. hes on free choice hay and great performance feed im not looking to change feeds. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 658
Location: Bessmer City NC | trying to upload pics |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Kind of depends on where he started. Was he scrawny when you got him? Did he have a bad winter?
Free choice hay isn't always good, unless it's high quality. Grass won't put on weight as fast as Alfalfa.
You could try a weight builder supplement or muscle builder supplement. Regular exercise with lots of long trotting will help muscle one up. If you have any hills, go up and down those walking, trotting, and loping. Just remember with exercise, your horse will require more food to build those muscles. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 658
Location: Bessmer City NC | he doesnt need weight. i work for a feed company hes got everything he needs feed wise and more. he wasnt thin when i got him he had just been turned out and used once in awhile. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 658
Location: Bessmer City NC | ive had him 2 months not 3 |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| So then reduce his intake on feed and ride him. Nothing drastic, but we reduce grain about 1/4 lb per horse in the spring and reduce hay from 6 flakes to 5 flakes (2 horses) They get rode 3-5 days per week, sometimes more. They lose their belly and they get more toned. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Hills, log him, breezing(18-20 sec), lots of transitions not just a steady long trot. Although long trotting is good and it will build endurance and help with top line and stride, its not necessarily going to build up muscle. Think of it when you see long distance runners and sprinters and compare their body type, long distance you have lean thin bodies and sprinters you have muscled up powerhouse bodies. It's all a balancing act. I wouldn't decrease his feed because he's going to need the extra calories.
Edited by FlyingJT 2014-03-14 9:10 AM
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | FlyingJT - 2014-03-14 10:08 AM Hills, log him, breezing(18-20 sec), lots of transitions not just a steady long trot. Although long trotting is good and it will build endurance and help with top line and stride, its not necessarily going to build up muscle. Think of it when you see long distance runners and sprinters and compare their body type, long distance you have lean thin bodies and sprinters you have muscled up powerhouse bodies. It's all a balancing act. I wouldn't decrease his feed because he's going to need the extra calories.
agree..long trotting is good for cardio.. and lungs ..
but to build more muscle .. slow work. long low .. transitions and halfhalts to get his hind engaged which will build hind muscles.. I would not reduce grain either. |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| We don't reduce grain for long. A couple of weeks, just long enough to take the extra stink off for those first few rides. Once they've been ridden for about a month, then their grain gets upped to normal + 1/4 lb or so for strenuous exercise! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 658
Location: Bessmer City NC | ive been long trotting about 15 mins with some very collected loping in the mix... i was going to put some poles on the ground and make him go over those ive been doing more pasture riding than arena work. hes very very level headed and very broke so i can do about anything on him/with him. i will not decrease feed his right where i want him right now and if anything i will increase it. i watch my horses very closely with feed and weight gain/loss. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Trotting over poles about 6 inches off of the ground, backing up hills, as others have said long trotting, working on collection. Big and little circles.
Or send him to a pool for 2 weeks as swimming really improves muscle, but doesn't work cardio or bone density. |
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help getting him "fit"