Posted 2015-01-12 10:03 PM Subject: How much exercise before you make a run?
Expert
Posts: 2128
My husband and I just had our first baby and I have been off my horse since the summer. I realize he will not be in his best shape until he receives regular riding for a couple of consecutive months. My question is how many weeks/rides at the minimum would you put on a horse before considering him "legged up" enough to make a competitive run?
Posted 2015-01-13 9:26 AM Subject: RE: How much exercise before you make a run?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 628 Location: Missouri
I usually do about a month and a half of consecutive riding before I consider them "in shape"after a 2 month or more break. This is about an hour a day long trotting with some drills on the side. Right now my horses haven't been ridden in a month and I have been riding consecutively for about a week now and they seem right back in shape, it helps that I have 15 acres they can run around on during the day. It really depends on your horses and what all you do. Hope this helps.
Posted 2015-01-13 9:43 AM Subject: RE: How much exercise before you make a run?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1162 Location: White Mountains of AZ
I think it depends on the horse...some will leg up faster and some not. I like a good 2 months. where I can run them hard and when I pull them up they are not heaving, but breathing a bit harder (normal for horses in shape who just ran lol) . My gelding takes a bit more to get into running shape then my mare. Yes I like having muscle, but I get very concerned about their lungs and breathing. I don't want them heaving and huffing and puffing after loping circles. So a good 2-3 months of continuous work for my horses is what I like :)
Posted 2015-01-13 10:55 AM Subject: RE: How much exercise before you make a run?
I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882 Location: MD
there was an interesting article in "Horse & Rider" By Sherry Cervi you might find useful. This is what she suggested as an exercise plan for a horse returning from a long layoff!
ETA: I have been doing something similar but focus more on their recovery time. say I long trot for 5 minutes, if it has been taking him 2 minutes to recover and it's only taking him a minute now, I'll up it to 6 minutes of long trotting, watch his recovery, add and subtract exercise and rest time based on your horse.
Posted 2015-01-13 12:49 PM Subject: RE: How much exercise before you make a run?
Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651 Location: Alberta
My horse will be entered up within a month and a bit of coming off her break.......but I think it really depends on how much "exercise" your horse gets with their turn out....my mare has been turned out since November (will start getting legged up Feb 1) in a 100 plus acres and they have to walk a lot and paw for food no standing at a cozy round bale.... Bottom line know you horse since they all are individuals....
How much exercise before you make a run?
