How much exercise before you make a run?

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How much exercise before you make a run? Moderators: luluwhit, gotothewhip, cindyt, crossspur, ForumAdmin Jump to page :	Last activity 2015-01-13 12:49 PM 6 replies, 2932 views View previous thread :: View next thread
General Discussion -> Barrel Talk


scwebster Reg. Mar 2013	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? Edited by scwebster 2015-01-12 10:38 PM
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mlh0972 Reg. Mar 2012	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.
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QH<3er Reg. Oct 2011	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 :)
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Crowned Image Reg. Jan 2011	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! http://horseandrider.com/article/barrel_horse_layoff_111209 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. Edited by Crowned Image 2015-01-13 10:58 AM
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scwebster Reg. Mar 2013	Posted 2015-01-13 12:08 PM Subject: RE: How much exercise before you make a run?
Expert Posts: 2128	Thank you all! I just don't want to ask him to run before his body is ready and end up causing him soreness ect.
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k.maddocks24 Reg. Mar 2014	Posted 2015-01-13 12:38 PM Subject: RE: How much exercise before you make a run?
Extreme Veteran Posts: 356	Here are some great online articles: http://www.equisearch.com/article/barrel_horse_layoff_111209 http://barrelhorsenews.com/articles/horse-health/3613-conditioning-... These books are also really awesome: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0935842020/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603424636/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o...
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dream_chaser Reg. Jun 2006	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.... Edited by dream_chaser 2015-01-13 12:51 PM
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