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Veteran
Posts: 291
 
| How long approximately does it take for a horse to get out of shape? Mines been off two weeks and I didn't know if I should enter the up and coming races or not |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
 
Location: Texas | That would depend on how 'in shape' they were to begin with. If I was judging off of personal experience, I'd say not long. |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | Horses can retain their physical condition longer than us humans. It is in the genetics. It would depend on whether the horse had a large place to roam or a pen/stall on how long they retain their shape. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
 
| skye - 2016-11-13 10:50 AM
Horses can retain their physical condition longer than us humans. It is in the genetics. It would depend on whether the horse had a large place to roam or a pen/stall on how long they retain their shape.
Ditto.A horse that is turn out in an area large enough to do some trotting and running will stay in better shape generally, than one kept in a stall 22 hours a day. Especially if they have herd mates to interact with. |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | In my opinion, I think fitness is a bit overblown with horses who are kept in pastures, if you are talking about weekend jackpots here and there. I may be wrong, but I think as long as you've been riding them reasonably often, an occasional week or two off isn't going to hurt them, especially if they haven't been penned up. As an aside, I also think a lot of horses are "warmed up" excessively before jackpots. Obviously it depends on the horse, but it seems to me too many horses are lathered up too much before a run. I think most probably need some walking, long trotting and maybe loping a few circles to get their muscles stretched out and the blood flowing. We're talking about a 15-17 second sprint here. Pastured horses often sprint like that several times a day. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | I think you'll be fine to go as long as your horse was reasonably fit before like everyone else has said... Mine has had 7 months off and is the antithesis of reasonably fit right now  so we are working on that. She was in great shape at the beginning of the layoff and I've watched her turn into a creampuff fitness wise as time has gone on. Although, even after her first month off I was surprised to see how well she looked to have retained her fitness. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I think you'll be fine.
Ours have a lot to move around in and I'm riding them on the weekends only now that it's dark long before I get home from work. We're still posting consistent or better times at the last few jackpots of the year.
I plan to keep up with the weekend rides as much as the weather will allow to maintain some bit of conditioning over the winter.
ETA the only type of horse I might feel differently about in the sense would be a bleeder. I think staying in peak condition is vital to the management of EIPH.
Edited by OhMax 2016-11-14 9:33 AM
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