i have a barrel horse who's sort of been in an early retirement for the last year and a half or so. He's only 14, and I want to get him back in shape for the spring. What's the best way to go about doing this to have the best results?
2006-10-26 06:18:44 · 15 answers · asked by kolby 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Depending on how much he has been ridden wihile in semi-retirement, I would say start woth some longeing for 30 to 45 minutes three or four days a week for a few weeks with lots of trot work. Along with this I would take him on a nice long trail ride with lots of hills about once a week and slowly work up to trotting up and down hills and then on to cantering the hills. This should take about 3 or 4 months to get to there. One thing for sure, keep it different, he is old enough to get bored with the same old routine. Maybe a trail ride twice a week with work in the ring twice a week and then maybe some flat work in a nice big field once a week once he is in shape for that amount of work. Good luck!!
2006-10-26 06:49:22 · answer #1 · answered by Debbi S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am experienced with horses, and have family that does barrels, I agree with the above answer about taking him out on the lead. You need to get him back into being rode, don't run him too hard. Run him on lead for a while, warm up so to speak, and then take a nice ride. Go up some hills, this will strengthen his leg muscles back up. Send me an email if you need more advice.Hope you the best. Also, 14 is not that old, Ive seen horses that lived to be 29 before. Your horse is at the age where he is good and broke with experience. No surprises as with a younger horse.
2006-10-26 06:38:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
if you're retiring him b/c he's older, 14 isn't that old my barrel horse is 20, and still a 1D horse so don't worry about the age problem as to getting him back in shape when you feed the other horses, bring him in and if he's not on grass only feed him 3-4 good slices of 1/2 grass/alfalfa hay and long trot him, go up and down hills to work his leg muscles back up and if he's sore, get some joint supplement too since you're working him pretty hard everyday
2006-10-26 09:02:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if this helps but we once had an older horse who was so overweight it caused breathing problems. The vet suggested we take him on a 2 hour ride daily, with some running during the ride. The exercise helped him a lot.
P.S. This horse did not have any other health problems such as bad legs etc.
2006-10-26 06:28:44 · answer #4 · answered by Gallifrey's Gone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stop losing everyones time. There is genuine animal cruelty occurring on the planet. Horses are being pushed hundreds of miles in over crowded lorries with out a recent water, sores, and open wounds. And you write dull questions like this only for 'humorous' solutions? If your that board, cross volunteer someplace. Jackass.
2016-09-01 03:01:09 · answer #5 · answered by stults 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get him back to shape by riding him.
Start with lots of walking and about 15 minutes of trot for a week and then go up to about 30 minutes of trot.
Do some hill work both up and down.
Walk the pattern with him and then trot it
get him on a good joint suppliment.
Lots of parctice and he should be good to go by spring.
Good luck.
2006-10-26 10:16:54 · answer #6 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take him out on the lead line once a day maby every other day at first for maby an hour or so gradually go for longer after a month or so start to ride him just walking then walk trot and up from there but he is starting to get a little old at 14 so it may be time to just let him retire or only ride him a little bit
2006-10-26 06:24:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
well first off good grain well help his health. then a exercise plan. like walk 5 min, trot 15 min, canter 5 min, then reverse and do the same thing. make sure after you are done riding you let him walk until he isn't breathing hard and has stopped sweating. if you don't walk when you're done his muscles will cramp up. if he's really out of shape make sure you ease him into exercise.
2006-10-26 11:34:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you just have to keep riding.
one day rde for only 20 minites and then the next ride for 30.
and then just keep bumping it up in time.
but you have to ride more than once or twice a week, its got to be like 4 or 5, even more.
And you need to know what your going to do, it cant be willy nilly.
Hope this helps
2006-10-28 13:01:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
START WITH LUNGING: 25 MIN WALK , 15 MIN TROT, THEN 5 MIN LOPE FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. THEN INCREASE THE TIME ON EACH EXCERSISE EVERY 3 DAYS OR SO.
2006-10-26 07:34:02 · answer #10 · answered by Isis Is: HOPEFULL HOUNDS RESCUE 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋