Back to work
“Horses maintain fitness much better than we do. If a horse was in full work and you drop back to just walking and trotting for two or three weeks, that can maintain a high level of fitness”
Dr David Marlin
THERE ARE MANY reasons why your horse might have had time off work. Perhaps you or he were injured, you chose not to ride during lockdown or he’s had a winter holiday. When it’s time to get going again, it’s vital to reintroduce ridden work safely and effectively. But where to begin?
“The first thing to do is consider how old your horse is, how fit they’ve been previously and if they’ve had any injuries,” says Dr Gillian Tabor, chartered physiotherapist and post graduate lecturer and researcher at Hartpury University. “Older horses and those recovering from injury will need a more tailored programmed. Knowing what your
