By Valerie Mellema

It won’t be long and winter will be over.  This means that you’re going to feel the urge to get back into the saddle and out on the trail.  The winter leaves many horse owners in the position that keep them from riding as much as they would like because the don’t have access to indoor facilities and the weather where they live is not conducive to outdoor riding during the winter months.  This means that as spring comes with warmer temperatures, horses are going to be ridden a lot more than they are used to after such a long break.  It also means that these horses are going to need some conditioning as well.

Conditioning your horse involves more than a 10-minute lunge.  It’s not uncommon for people to bring the horse out of his stall, throw the saddle on and get to riding.  This is hard on a horse in more ways than one and can be likened to you going to the gym and running a mile on the treadmill after such a long break.  It’s hard on you and you’re going to get tired very quickly.  The same is true for your horse. 

There have been numerous studies done on equine condition.  Most have found that conditioning is very important to prevent injury to your horse after a long winter.  The University of California-Davis provides numerous services to horse owners and are a large part of the equine community.  They suggest that when you bring your horse up to the barn after a long layover, you should begin with easy and slow work that will help them to regain their muscle and bone strength.

Ohio State University has found similar findings in their research.  They suggest that you give your horse ample time to warm-up.  Start with the slow paces and then incorporate small bursts of speedwork into your riding routine.  These bursts will help the horse’s muscles get prepared for exertion and will allow him to reach his peak oxygen consumption levels sooner.  You also want to warm your horse up at various levels of speed. 
When you’re getting ready to ride after so much time off, it’s important to keep in mind that just because your horse takes off running in the pasture doesn’t mean he’s ready for hard riding. 

Disclaimer:

Horses are dangerous animals and care should be taken throughout the entire process of training and riding. All horse related activities encompass risk. The material provided in this book is for information only and Valerie Mellema and affiliated parties are not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions or consequences resulting from the use of this book and the information contained herein. Valerie Mellema and affiliated parties accepts no liability or responsibility for any physical, emotional, or financial consequences or any special, incidental, or consequential damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly through the use of the information in this book.