HGG Community Forums

@HTRanch strength and conditioning. She is bombproof and an angel on solo rides I was just wondering how to get her back into shape to go out longer. And for how long to ride for an amount of time.

Really, the best thing you can do is to find a knowledgeable person whom you trust, who understands your goals, and who can watch you and your horse work together. Using a saddle will always be safer, and using a helmet should be second nature. /soapbox

@EasternShowBarn there isn’t anything too bad about babying them, I’m guilty myself. Not having someone to ride with or talk to in person about horses really sucks. I’m always on the lookout for more mentors with horses or riding buddies, I think everyone who has horses should. But since it’s not always possible to bounce ideas off of people we respect and know them personally, books are the next best thing (at least in my opinion).

One of my new favorite horse books is Know Better To Do Better by Denny Emerson, he is one of the best horse book authors I’ve ever come across, and while a lot of his experience is with three day eventing, it has a ton of information that I have found extremely useful. He also explains things very well on paper, which is sometimes an issue with great horsemen/women. I will probably never do any eventing, but that doesn’t make the book irrelevant for what I do, it’s just different knowledge. It also has a chapter on how he gets his horses in shape, and why he does what he does.

Without seeing your mare or knowing anything about what you’re doing. I’d suggest doing a shortish trail ride, and see what she’s like the next day or two. Sore, stiff, not taking strides like she usually does. If she’s any of the former you’ll know you did too much and can back off. The way I was taught to look for soreness/stiffness as well as lameness; is to lunge the horse at a relaxed walk and watch where the back foot lands in comparison to the front footprint. Some horses will overstep some will have both footprints in the same spot and others will step a ways behind. Do this both directions, and figure out what is natural for your mare. Then the day after your ride lunge her at a walk with no warm up, and see where her feet land is it different at all? If it’s the same then everything is good. If she’s under stepping then she’s probably sore. This type of slow scrutinizing your horse can help you tell when something actually isn’t quite right. This is something that works for me, it may not work for you at all. I’m just giving information it’s your decision to take it, or leave it.

I hope this helps some happy riding. :)