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Bringing up a horse
If horse been off for any length of time (6 weeks and over) and not worked
he will need to be prepared to start getting fit
Preparing your horse
Feed tiny feeds in field to activate micro-organisms in gut
Bring in to stable gradually
Reintroduce hay
Start grooming more thoroughly – body brush/ rubber curry comb
Pull mane and tail
Clip him but only when trotting as he will get cold
Check teeth
Check Flu and Tet
Worm if needed
Get him shod
Harden skin with salt water if needed – 1 teaspoon salt to 1 pint water
Start programme using soft material girth or girth cover
Ensure tack soft and clean numnah
Basic programme
1. Walk and slow work
2. Trotting and schooling on flat and over jumps
3. Fast work and competitions
Length of fitness programme
Light work 6 – 8 weeks
Hacking, walking, trotting
Medium work 8 – 10 weeks
Jumping /schooling/ Pc rallies
Dressage and show jumping 1 x weekly
Hard work 10 – 12 weeks
Novice ODE
Hunting ½ x weekly
Camp endurance riding polo
Very hard/fast work 14 – 16 weeks
3 day event/ Racing
Stage Aim Exercise to achieve aim
Stage 1 Harden tendons Start 20 mins walk
Walking only Increase circulation and building up to1
Weeks 1 – 3 Improve muscle tone by -1.5 hours in 3 weeks
using excess fat if off for more than 3
Improve respiration months walk up to 2
hrs a day for 6 weeks
Stage 2 Build muscle without Walk and steady
Muscling up leg strain trotting building up
Weeks 4- 8 Improve obedience and to 2 hrs a day.
suppleness Start with short trots
and gradually
increasing
Use good ground
When he can trot
uphill for a
reasonable distance,
he can start canter
Start of week 6 start
schooling
At end of this period
steady cantering and
some jumping
Interval training
You won’t be expected to talk about this at B test unless you know in depth
about it
Roughing off
This is when horse is gradually let down in preparation for a holiday in the
field
Takes 10 – 14 days
Reduce work and hard feed gradually
Reduce rugs
Cut down on grooming
Turn out for longer periods
May remove shoes
May have annual vaccinations done
On first night out pick a nice night
Long holiday v short break
Questions
1. What are 3 stages of fittening programme?
2. Why is walking so important?
3. What factors may affect a fitness programme?
4. At what point would you increase feed in fittening programme?
5. Explain terms bringing up and roughing off
6. Why do whole grains need to be cooked or husk broken?
7. What is danger of feeding oats to small ponies?
8. Why is it important to soak sugar beet? Which mineral does it supply?
9. What does the horse need in its diet to make it well balanced?
10.Explain why roughage is so important in a horse’s diet?