Bringing a horse back into work after box rest

[hollyberry86]

My pony has now been stabled 24/7 for just over six weeks due to having contracted strangles. He has had two blood tests and swabs during this time and on Tuesday had a guttural pouch wash so (touch wood) if the results are clear he will be able to be turned out and ridden in the school again.

I'll probably let him have a few days even a week of getting used to going back out in the field before trying to do anything with him in the school but after that I'm just wondering about getting him back in to work.

The problem is that he does need a new saddle however my budget has been depleted for the next month or so due to vets bills so I'm looking at ways I can get him fit on the ground i.e. lungeing, long reining.

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for getting him fit (ish) via groundwork and ideas to get him working correctly and to begin building muscle tone back. Is the pessoa all it's cracked up to be or am I better lungeing with loose side reins and long reining?

I'm aiming to have the saddler out in June (though I'm also conscious that as other horses on the yard currently don't have the all clear he may not be willing to come).

His saddle used to fit fine but as he's matured a lot this year it doesn't sit quite right and would rather wait until I can get the saddler out and do all I can with ground work first.

So any suggestions very welcome!!

Thanks v much!

Holly

[jacksprat]

i use the pessoa on my two and find it very useful, however, it does need to be done slowly and built up gradually as with any form of exercise.

[speedysally]

yeah, i'd try just lunging first and slowly get your horse back in to work, don't rush it, just take things slow and steady and you should be fine :-)

[Snowy]

This thread will be handy for me too. I've already started to plan bringing my boy into work in August after 16 weeks off. So any hints would be good thanks.

p.s sorry to hijack your thread. Just saves there being 2 on the same subject

[bennybee]

I wouldnt lunge to start with unless it was just in walk. i would just get on in walk. the 'bhs way' reccomends like 8 weeks 2 weeks walk to harden up all the tendons and ligaments again and then two weeks introducing trot then two canter then refining and schooling/jumping harder work in the last two weeks!

[hollyberry86]

I can't get back on just yet as he needs his saddle checking/and most likely changing but need to wait a few weeks to get paid first!

I'll probably start with longreining in walk for two weeks in that case and then progress on to lungeing in trot and so on.

I'll also have a search for the BHS way of getting them fit, thanks for the tip!