exercising an out-of-shape mare ?
i have recently been asked to ride a tennessee walking horse mare, who hasn’t been ridden in a long while, supposedly. i will get to start with her sometime this week. my question is: what is a good workout regimen for an out-of-shape mare, to get her in shape ? i have access to a huge pasture, and that’s about it.
i’m not sure how old she is, and i’ll get to work with her as often as possible, maybe three weeknights and hopefully both weekends. she’s trained in western. :]
i’m pretty sure she’s been turned out to pasture regularly, but she has a stall, and is most likely kept it that during inclement weather and nighttime; she’s not an all-pasture horse, nor is she an all-stall horse.
she hasn’t been out of work for years — maybe a year at the most.
I would start her with grooming sessions and work from there. You can tell a lot about a horse by watching them in the cross ties. Is she cooperative or resentful? Will she comply with the basics? Pick up her feet, step over with out making a face or swishing her tail? If she has been off work for a long time, she may feel like she is permanently retired and may object to any return to work.
Once you 2 have come to an agreement, work her in a confined area in tack from the ground. Maybe she lounges, maybe she doesn’t, but wouldn’t you rather know what she knows before you climb aboard.?
Once that is accomplished, mount in a secure area and dismount repeatedly until she understands that a person in the saddle doe not necessarily mean we are going anywhere just yet. It is also a great way to instill the “stand” command.
From that point on, go slowly until you know her and can anticipate her reaction to what you are requesting of her.
Don’t expect to be trail riding this mare in a week. Take it slow and steady, don’t ask too much of her to soon and proceed to new things only when she is ready and keep in mind that she will need to build muscle and fitness. She will be sore from work, just like you would be if you were a couch potato for a few years.
Good luck!
Edit: Keep in mind that she will not trot, but execute an intermittent gait called the running walk. Her 3 gaits should be a flat walk, running walk and a rocking chair canter.
