I grip the wooden handle of the heavy manure fork. As I close my hands, my fingers ache from the cold. The single layer leather work-gloves do nothing to relieve the minus temperatures of the day. Never mind, I tell myself, my hands will warm up in a minute. After a couple of more stalls.
The act of “stall mucking” gives me time to reflect and solve all the problems of the world. The meditative state which equestrians accomplish whilst stall mucking is enormous. But today, with aching hands, I count my blessings and understand what horses mean to me.
Easy Conditioning Program
There are horse owners who love to tell people that they have a horse, or two, or three, or more. Their horses have the best care but are not in a riding program or exercise program.
These horses, with straggly coats and feathers are often brought in from their pasture once per week, or even once per month with the expectation that they will be a “good girl” or “good boy”. Which is often the case.
However, if they are “fresh” they will get ridden, or worse, lunged, for tediously long periods to “get the bucks out”.
As I get a little “long in the tooth” myself, I can see myself doing this type of horse ownership.
But not just yet.
Purpose of a Fitness Program
I see the value in a regular program. An exercise regimen. How can a horse perform, even if it is a trail ride or recreational encounter, if it has been self regulating on hay and pasture with no concern for development.
Let alone expected to compete at a horse show.
Is it really fair for the horse to expect to be hauled out of their pasture, tacked up, and ridden for hours?
I think not.
This would be the equivalent of a person, who is unfit, getting up and hiking for a couple of hours. How would you feel, if after being inactive, heading out along the trail. You would probably enjoy it, but the following day, you’d feel the pain of stiff and sore muscles.
A key point is having an unfit horse opens the door for injury and lameness. Keeping your horse in a decent level of fitness can help prevent the development of soundness issues.
To get a horse in decent fitness from pasture it takes between eight to ten weeks. To help you on your way download a sample program to get your horse from pasture fat to fit.