If your horse or pony has had time off ridden work as a result of a winter break, a yard move or even an injury then bringing them back into work can be daunting. Scientific Nutritional Products looks at a return to fitness for your equine and the factors to consider in our latest blog.
When considering how to bring your horse or pony back to full fitness here at Scientific Nutritional Products we understand the process requires sufficient preparation so it is not rushed, which could result in injury.
Firstly before beginning a return to exercise ensuring your horse or pony is both sound and comfortable and in good weight and condition is vital to their well being. A physiotherapist or a veterinarian will be able to assess them and if there are any queries your horse or pony should undergo veterinary evaluation. Once this is established welfare checks such as saddle fit checks and an all important farriery visit should be conducted to set them up for work.
When building up the workload for your horse or pony progressively starting with ground work can give them a good basis. This can include long reining, walking in hand over poles and when they are fitter; some lunging.
The second phase of fitness work for your equine ideally should include hacking including gentle slopes and hills in walk focusing on building fitness in a straight line. Increasing the trot work should be gradual process for your horse or pony and initially riders should aim to not to exceed five minutes of trot throughout the whole ride. This total time period of trot work can be increased by a few minutes per week as fitness builds.
Once riders reach the one month mark of your horse’s return to fitness you can be incorporating gentle schooling sessions with some canter work. Jumping your horse or pony should only be considered when canter work is well established roughly around two months in to a fitness programme.
Experts in nutrition Scientific Nutritional Products understand that when returning your horse or pony to full fitness a high quality and nutritious diet should be provided. The diet should include starch, fibre, and oil alongside a quality protein to support equine muscle development. Including a supplement in the feed such as Competition Horse Supplement or Horse & Pony Multivitamin from Scientific Nutritional Products can be highly beneficial to health by providing optimal nutrients which balance and support the diet.
Scientific Nutritional Products offers both Horse and Pony Multi Vitamin Supplement and Competition Horse Supplement which contain premium vitamins and minerals to optimise condition and well being. For more information on the high quality supplements in the range from Scientific Nutritional Products visit the website www.horsesupplementsdirect.com or Freephone 0800 032 7774
