How can i get my horse fitter?

Question

my horse is a TB Gelding and we want to do three day eventing but during Equestrian Influenza he got a HUGE grass belly and is very unfit. he lives in a large grassy paddock with no access to stables or grass less paddocks(Not our paddock) and i ride him every day possible and he's wormed and healthy ( Apart from his fat belly) and we have looked at his food and cut it down so that it is good for him

what else can i do?????

Answer 1

I've always heard that long trotting is one of the best ways you can exercise your horse.  Getting to hold an extended trot and working up to 2 miles a day would whip him into shape in no time.

Answer 2

HI I KEEP MY CLYDESDALES OUT IN GRASS ALL YEAR, SOME PEOPLE THINK IT'S BAD BUT IT'S NOT I JUST CAN'T FIT A 19.2HH HORSE IN MY STABLE!

BUT HE WAS STARTING TO GET A RATHER LARGE BELLY SO I PUT A GRASS MUZZLE ON HIM

http://www.yorkshiresaddlery.co.uk/shire...

ALSO EXERSIZE HIM AND LUNGE HIM EVERYDAY.

Answer 3

Get a hold of your vet and have him/her tell you what to do. If you think the horse may have an illness then you really need to have a vet look at your horse and maybe do some tests..

Answer 4

You really should try an actual program for this. look On-line or in a book (there are plenty about).

Walking to start with gradually increasing his work. When he is fit, steady trotting up hill really works well.Don't forget to increase his grain ratio once you start the serious work.

Answer 5

\ what u should do to kepp your horse fit is to ride them 3 -4 times a week and make sure that they are happy with what you are doing with them. Horses can be very pickey of who they like to ride them. some horses before you ride them they like to be lunged and alot of mine need it. and whatever you do is dont get your horse of his/or her riding routen because if u do that then they might be thinking that you are afarid of them. Also when you ride your horse make sure that you do alot of troting because that bilds mussel.

Answer 6

Daily work is the best.  Short workouts.  Start with 10 minutes of trotting and each week add 5 more minutes.  This can be under saddle or on the lunge line.  You can still additionally ride him after a rest period.  Hill work also helps at a walk and a slow trot.  The key is aerobic energy (trotting)  cantering is easier on the horses muscles and is more pulmonary.  

Also trotting poles and raised cavaletti will help him engage his hindquarters and lift his feet, which works his abs.

I raise ponies and it is hard to get them to shed their grass belly.  Most of my animals live on pasture and hay belly is a problem for me as well.  As I mostly use my ponies for halter and driving, I employ the free longing in my round pen at least 4 times a week to keep them in shape.

Answer 7

Lots and lots of trotting will help with weight loss and muscle toning!

Answer 8

Use a grass muzzle for sure. When you're working with him, do lots of trotting, especially up and down hills. Trotting will require him to do the most work. Doing more work out of the ring is better for getting him in shape than ring work.

Answer 9

ummmm just do little and often as they always say with horses!!!! work him out little and often but make sure when you cut down his feed he is still gettting enough minerals to keep him in tip top condition!!!!!

HOPE I HELPED!!!!!

Answer 10

First of all, put a muzzle on him if you can't put him in a dry lot.  The muzzle will restrict the amount of grass he can eat.  Cut out any treats or grain you may be feeding him.

Second, lengthen the time you spend riding him and ride more frequently.  Do this gradually and steadily.  If you normally ride 3 times a week for 1 hour, add 15 minutes to your ride every other time you ride.  Increase the number of times you ride per week or ride twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening (if you can).

I've got one fat horse and one that is kinda fat.  They are both on an almost dry lot and they are losing weight pretty well (not too fast) and they are exercised regularly (sometimes daily).

Hope this helps!

Answer 11

lung him to and call the vet and ask

Answer 12

The most important thing is to take things slowly.

Begin with a week of slow, long walks, incorporate some hills, gradually add in trot work, etc. Aim for this over a period of about 6 weeks or so.

If you want to do 3DE, might be better to start off with some low level ODE's if your horse is really unfit :)

Answer 13

my horse has the same problem... even though i dont want to do three day eventing. but if there are any trails near you i would highly advise trotting the whole thing. maybe giving your horse a break inbetween but trotting in an open field where you have to go up and down hills is the best exercise for them. especially if you have alot of hills near you going up and down the hills is very good for them.

I hope i helped!!! contact me if you want more information!

Answer 14

To get the polo ponies in shape after they come off pasture for 3 months we start by trotting them for 20 minutes, 6 days a week.  Slightly increase that amount (only by about 2 minutes) every couple days.  After about 10 days (depending on how they are coming along) we start loping them at the end of the trotting session.  Start with 2 minutes, work your way up to 7 (or more, if you want.  We only need them to be able to lope for 7 minutes straight, that's why we use 7 minutes as a guide).  The trotting is what gets them in shape, builds muscle.  The loping is what gets them wind, or endurance.  It'll take a little while but our horses are usually fairly fit again in about a month, and ready for competition by 6 weeks at the most.

Of course we also pull them off the grass and regulate their hay when we are trying to get them fit.  Since he lives in a grassy paddock, I like the idea of getting him a grazing muzzle to cut down on his intake.  You don't have to leave it on 24/7 but leaving it on half the time would help a lot.

Good luck!

Answer 15

If you think hes sick then i suggest a vet otherwise with the fitness try taking it slowly but lots of troting will get his muscles working.