I'm curious what are your go to routines are for getting a horse back in shape? How long do you long trot/canter? Do you judge by distance or time?

I like to ride 2x-3x and then lunge bited up with a surcingle 2x a week. 

He's not 100% finished on the pattern but doesn't need much drills during the week. I have some access to trails and an outdoor arena but due to mud can't long trot or canter on the trails. He's had a month off turned out but is the type of horse that enjoys running hotlaps in his pasture or causing a ruse (chasing or rearing/striking at his pasture mate. 

Thanks in advance!

Bump

Depends on how long they've been sitting - aka how hard a winter we've had.

ill try to get back on as soon as there's enough light after work to ride on, I have 2 to ride so they'll get worked 2-3 days a week until I have time to ride both.  Depends on ground conditions too.  

Once we start to melt and gravel roads get soft serious legging up will begin - I'll start by walking out a mile on the roads and then coming back, this also allows me to judge how the horse is going to handle road rides.  I have one who's a nut and it's not enjoyable for him or me so he has to sit and wait until I can get into the pasture to ride (lots of side hills so it can't be too squishy).  I'll work up to riding out 2-3miles and back with variations of walk/trot/lope and breeze depending on how much I trust the horse.

This is always a question I have. My mare has not been rode since October due to work and weather. I've seen a post where someone has said to walk for 30 minutes for 1 week then week 2 long trot for 5 minutes in a straight line, week 3 long trot 5 minutes and lope 5 minutes in large circle, week 4 walk for 25 mintues and trot for 10 minutes, week 5 walk for 15 minutes, lope for 10minutes long trot for 5 minutes. What are your thoughts on this? Again it says nothing about how many times a week so what would your thoughts on how many times a week be? 

I generally adjust my conditioning to the individual horse. All of mine are keep on very large pastures over the winter and have to climb hills, cross ditches, and slog through mud to get from the hay to the feed troughs. So they get more natural exercise than the ponies we have on a 2 acre pen. 

I usually stretch out my horses before I ride to help prevent injury or too much soreness.

When I start conditioning the first week I do a ton of easy trail riding. Walking and slow trotting the foot paths to the deer stands and back. About a 3/4 to a mile round trip. 

I increase the amount of work according to how good the horse feels the following few weeks. If they feel too fresh after a ride I know they can handle more. I give them the weekends off for a while so they can rest and have a few recoop days.

I like to trail ride for reconditioning because I feel they get good exercise from trotting up and down hills. Loping thru the sandy creek bottom and walking thru the sticky mud. I'll start breezing them a short distance after about 3 weeks. I try to keep them breathing good but not huffing that way they are getting cardio in really good. 

I generally want a sweat spot under my saddle pad but not a drenched neck (unless its warmer out and my horse is wooly). I don't want my horses breathing like they are having a heart attack but I do want them to have an elevated pulse. I tend to treat them how I would treat myself if I was in heavy reconditioning training, minus the part where I over do it and can't walk the next day. I want to push them a little more every day but not enough to have them too sore the next day. 

Generally:

1st week: 5 days of walk/trot trails on foot paths (really easy travel)

2nd week: 5 days of walk/trot trails and loping my breeze spot. ( my breeze spot is about 1/3 mile long)

3rd week: 3 days trails, 2 days arena work (loping circles, trotting, etc.) 1 to 2 days I will breeze depending on how my horse feels.

4th week: 2 days intense trails with breeze, 3 days arena work, 2 days barrel work to get them back in the mindset (but do not over do this! This should be slow loping and focusing on trouble areas) some of mine actually wont see the barrel pattern (old faithful) and I just trail ride them more. Or some will get a day or two off if I feel they are a little sore. 

5th week: depends on the horse but I usually keep the same routine with one day having a mock barrel race. 

Always listen to your horse. Stretching them before saddling tends to keep them looser and happier in my opinion. I also stretch them after I cool them out. Just helps keep them limber and help with soreness (as I do when I'm working out).

Everyone has a different program. I slow down a bit after i feel they are back in good shape. I dont go on a "timed" work out but rather how my horse feels. 

Hope this helps.

This is great!!! Thank you!!!!