Getting Back into Work

Published by Peter at May 26, 2020

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As lockdowns start to be lifted, most riders are getting their horses back into work. As much as we are excited ourselves to be riding again, it is important not to rush the horses back.

Going from inactivity to intensive work can cause injuries that could wreck your horse’s athletic career. Tendon injuries are the most common, but any ligament, cartilage or muscular tear will also put your horse in great pain.

Equine biomechanics researcher Dr Hilary Clayton shares some tips and insights into the best ways of bringing our equine athletes back into work. To read her article, please click here: https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2020/05/24/equine-biomechanics-conditioning-tips/

Dr Clayton makes seven major points. The most pertinent to getting back to work are:

When getting back to work, where do you start and how do you know how to move forward?

First, address the condition of feet, saddle fit, and plan for increasing nutrition requirements.
start very gradually with walking for the first 2 to 4 weeks.
start with 10 min under saddle, working just 3 to 4 days in the first week
increase amount of walking by 10 min/week
by 3 weeks = 30 min walk/day, start introducing 20 seconds of trot then slowly introduce short canters
performing lots of transitions between gaits is great for improving fitness

Her article also deals with these questions:

What are the differences between conditioning and training?
What are the signs of “too fast, too long and too soon!” and how do we avoid this?
What are some of the similarities and differences in training programs for different disciplines?

And before sending them out to pasture for a spell, these are the questions she addresses:

Considerations for horses that go from full work to just pasture turn-out?
How long before a horse begins to lose muscle mass and fitness? What about bones/connective tissues?
What advice do you have for horse owners that are worried that leaving the horse alone is detrimental to its well-being?

Dr Clayton is a charter diplomate and past president of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, an Honorary Fellow of the International Society for Equitation Science and has been inducted into the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame, the Midwest Dressage Association Hall of Fame and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame.

Photo Credit: Edge Polo

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