One of my mares has been off since last April, was an old injury and I was told 6-8 months but I left her sit since it was winter anyways. Just had the vet out last week, she's totally sound as of now, on the lunge line LOL.

Question, we have quite a bit of snow here, no indoor, how would you go about your routine getting her going again? She's been on turnout all winter, smaller paddock, just no riding. My vet just said to me take it slow was basically the only advice I got.

She's full of herself this past month, crazy in the pasture with her friends, so there's no way I'm saddling and getting right on. How often should I lunge in the snow ? Also, since she hasn't see the barrel pattern in a year,  how do you go about introducing that again eventually? She was clocking 3d for the past 2 years.

Any suggestions on what worked for you I appreciate the input. Thanks.

send to an aqua tred 

Here's a great article from EQUUS Magazine about conditioning horses that are recovering from 4 types of layoffs:

https://equusmagazine.com/management/safe-successful-comebacks-8133

ETA: well I guess it didn't save my other part after I put the link in. I would keep your lunging sessions very short in the beginning, and if the snow is slick or super deep, she may have more trouble. I have turned out rehabbed horses in our arena when the snow was super deep to let them get their yayas out without being able to go too fast, but I'm not sure that's something a vet would recommend If you can safely handwalk her or pony her next to a super quiet, solid horse that won't get riled up, that would be ideal. When horses are running around freely, they can stop any time they get tired or sore, however when they're being worked or being handled they don't have that freedom. I would start off with lots of walking and then work up to trotting while lunging, then if you feel comfortable and she is progressing well, I would start riding and do lots of slow work to get her muscle tone back. Once you feel she is in shape and she is still sound/healthy, I would go about working the pattern like normal, starting to add speed and see how she does. I would make sure she has lots of rest and recovery time in between workouts, as she might get fatigued very easily.

Thanks! I unfortunetly can not afford sending her to an aqua tread facility, the one that's closest to me is $1000 per month, just can't swing that. 

Bumping back up any others that want to chime in!

I also live in the frozen tundra with a ton of snow on the ground right now...

Do you have anywhere you could possibly pony her? Or even off of another horse for a while? Straight lines until she gets in some kind of shape at least. That would be my approach.

I hate this time of year because I also lunge in the snow and after 4 months off every year, he acts like an idiot and it scares me so bad! He may rethink this year tho since the snow is so deep LOL

I don't have the option unless I haul to an indoor right now...our land is all surrounded with plowed fields thanks to the farmers that are bordering us..we are wooded too. I was thinking BIG lounge line circles for starters to get those sassy bucks out. I hate this time of year! We had freezing rain as well on top of snow 

I'm doing one now that has been off for a couple years and has had 2 torn tendons & a torn ligament in the past. I started lunging him at a walk, just for 15 minutes. He's pastured, so he can move all day on his own. He doesn't get stupid though, he's 26 and doesn't care. But I found after 15 minutes of straight walking he'd get a little sore even. So he goes 4 days a week so he can rest. Bumped him up 5 minutes a week and added a minute of trottign after 2 weeks and just keep gradually going up as I see fit, it depends on his level. When dealing with the old injuries that didn't heal 100% correctly and the significant atrophy, I take him extra slow. I think if you give yours enough line & just let her bronc the first time or whatever, lunge her on the snow. As long as it's not slick. And just keep an eye on her & take it slow. For being off a year it's probbaly going to take you 2-3 months to get back into shape to even think about running anyway. Mine have been off for 5 months and I just got on this weekend and I won't run until mid May 

https://horseandrider.com/training/barrel_horse_layoff_111209-13056

I have always thought this was a good guidline to follow, it is from Sherry Cervi

Thank you!