(For those of you who are unfamiliar, this is a "Thelwell Pony," made famous by Norman Thelwell in his pony-themed books. "Thelwell Pony" is code for "pretty darn fat".)
ASSESS THE ISSUE
Consider your horse's physical condition. Has he gained weight? Many do if they're lazing around, being a pasture ornament. But some horses - especially those who have built muscle through regular work - will lose some of that muscle mass. One good solution to both issues is a few weeks of ground work - longeing, long-lining, ground driving or in-hand work. Start with 10 minutes and gradually increase the length and intensity of the sessions. It will build muscle, help your horse lose excess weight, and has the added plus of helping your horse re-focus on work and get the "spring silliness" out without putting yourself at risk of getting dumped!
"CONDITION" IS RELATIVE
Getting your horse as fit as possible is a good idea, but you have to factor in what your horse will be doing, how much time you realistically have to work your horse, and the extent of your horse's physical capabilities. If your horse is used for casual trail riding, he won't need to be as fit as a horse used for competitive trail or endurance. If you ride 3 times a week and show a couple times during the summer, your horse won't need to be as fit as a horse who's competing in horse trials every other weekend. If you have an older horse with arthritis or other physical issues, or a youngster you're just starting, their conditioning programs need to be consistent with their physical capabilities. So take a realistic look at what your horse's job is going to be, and plan accordingly.
TAKE IT SLOWLY
Have you ever sailed into an exercise program with great enthusiasm but little preparation? If so, you know how body-sore you can get from doing too much too soon. It's the same for your horse - soreness and even injury are very real possibilities, and can set your training back days or weeks. So start slowly, and build gradually. Many trainers like to start the season by hacking out at the walk. They start with a short interval - say, 20 minutes of active walking and "long and low" stretching - and build gradually. They'll do ring work as well, but always go back to the long walks to help build strength. Then they'll add some trot work, and eventually some canter and gallop work. This sort of cross-training is excellent for horses of all disciplines, not just physically. but mentally, too. How would you feel if all you ever did for exercise was ride a stationary bike, or jog on a treadmill? Taking breaks from arena work will keep your horse from getting bored and "ring-sour." Conversely, trail / endurance horses benefit greatly from ring work and basic flat work and dressage - it helps keep them supple, balanced and working correctly.
FEEDING
An increase in physical activity may also require an adjustment in your horse's diet. Ideally, a healthy horse in work should have access to free-choice hay or grazing, as well as the right amount and the right type of concentrates. With advances in feed formulation and knowledge of equine nutrition, you no longer have to feed massive quantities of oats, corn and other grains and hope you find the happy medium between not enough energy and a horse that wants to swing from the rafters! There are specific formulas available for horses in different levels of work, for youngsters, breeding horses and senior horses. We have Poulin feeds here at Whitman's, and are always happy to offer input to help you choose the right feed for your horse. We also have an excellent selection of supplements from Farnam, Life Data, Finish Line, AniMed, Source, Manna Pro and more.
GET PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
Getting your horse fit is, for the most part, an exercise in common sense. If your horse is stiff the day after a workout, you might be progressing too quickly and need to scale back. By the same token, if your horse is breathing easily after a 2 minute trot interval, it's probably time to increase the interval to 2 1/2 or 3 minutes. But sometimes, you'll run into issues that puzzle you. Maybe your horse doesn't seem to be losing any weight, even after 4 or 5 weeks of consistent work. Or maybe your horse seems stiff and body sore after even a very light workout, or maybe she's developed a slight unevenness when tracking left at the trot. When common sense isn't working, it's time to check in with your vet. It could be a shoeing or dental issue, a saddle fit issue, or even something as simple as a slight tweak in or addition to your horse's diet. But whatever's going on, finding the problem sooner than later is always good, and it can keep more serious issues from developing.
