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Building muscle

2K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  LillyBlossomsEC 
#1 ·
My mare has a clean bill of health yet she lacks muscle mass. She has since I adopted her in September. Shes a TWH mare 18 current on teeth float. ON HIGH quality bermuda free fed 24/7 plus 4 flakes of alfalfa a day and shes turned out daily for 4 hours total plus 3 times a week workouts that vary.

Im stumped at how to get her muscles short of taking her to golds gym and introducing her to the juicers that lift LOL
 
#7 ·
Muscles are built through a good diet that provides all the nutrients the horse needs and correct riding using a good conditioning program. You need to start the conditioning slowly so you don't make the horse sore and be riding correctly so the correct muscles and muscle groups are being worked. In the arena, I work on serpentines, transitions, changes of direction, lateral work, pole work, spirals, etc, increase time and intensity, but only one at a times, as the horse's condition improve. Hill work is very beneficial for teach a horse to use the hindquarters for impulsion---start at a walk, pay attention to TPR so you don't overwork the horse, and increase time, distance, and incline, only one at a time, as the horse's condition permit. For initial conditioning, I work the horse at a walk and as the condition improves, will work the walk with some trotting added in, and as the horse's condition improves add in cantering and some hand galloping.
 
#8 ·
Okay it took forever to get back on here. UGH!
So I live in So Cal. Right near Palm Springs. It was 118* today with 30% humidity.
also were totally flat until you hit a mountain. There are no areas for me to do hills. :/
I have been taking her out every morning at 530am and maintaining a jogging walk ( shes a TWH) for about 20min then returning home cooling off. I have noticed minimal improvement. When it cools we will be able to hit the canyons which are mostly a very low grade slope. but right now its too flipping hot :(
 
#9 ·
You adopted her....was she a rescue?
A rehabbed rescue who was a neglect case of starvation possibly?

If that....
It is not unheard of for it to take a year or more for the insides of the horse to heal enough, {although the outside looks good}, to start to rebuild the musculature of the animal.
So a few things stand out to me you mention or not...
She has grass hay to eat, free-choice. Alfalfa and also beet pulp.
She is exercised, constructively 3x a week weather permitting {hear you about temps}
She's current on her teeth, what about everything else?

So, she is 18 years old...may have come from a neglectful past.
That past may have given her some muscle atrophy
You're feeding her Sr. feed....how much? By weight not volume please.
Is she getting all the protein and building blocks of nutrition she needs to build that muscle, replenish what may have been lost?
Older horses, yes she is older, can take longer to build muscle than a young one. Same in a horse as a human. Also takes more work to keep that muscle tone in a older animal than a young one.
She is on limited turnout where she could self-exercise even if it meant walking around, it is exercise.
To build muscle you must exert yourself.
That means pushing a little more each time you go out for a walk, time-frame can be the same but the speed and duration that speed is pushed needs upgrading.
Don't underestimate that she could be building lean muscle and not bulk mass...defined muscle is as good if not better than having a fat bulked up animal bulging with useless mass.

So, my thoughts would be....
Make sure you are providing enough protein so she can build muscle.
Make sure along with the protein she has the corresponding vitamins and minerals to support the building of muscle.
Give her a more vigorous exercise regiment to help her to build that muscle-tone. Weather permitting.
Go for longer walks/jogs not always the same amount of time everyday. Increase the intensity of the workout. You need to challenge the heart & lungs too to make muscle.
Get her turned out more hours a day...

So as some already commented....
Not having bulk muscle doesn't mean she doesn't have lean muscle.
I would rather see lean muscle on a horse than a fat-bulked one....a lot healthier for the animal...

It takes time to build what you want.
Proper nutrition, and exercise are crucial.
If you have not done a picture timeline you need to.
When you see your horse as often as you do, you miss the small changes.
There very well could be increased toning of those muscles and you just not see it. Your horse may never get "bulk" muscles either if you search for that...not sure walkers bulk like a quarter horse bred for halter will...and some of that muscling just plain and simple comes down to genetics.

Good luck.
:runninghorse2:...
jmo...


 
#11 ·
Sorry my phone split the posts..

I've had my boy for over a year but we have only really begun riding over the last 4 months . I ride 3-5 days a week mostly walk and trot but I do canter work on the lunge as my canter is still rough..

We include in our rides trot poles, cavalettis, backing up under saddle, long and low etc
 

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#12 ·
rain....
Your horse shows the start of really nice muscle definition in his hindquarters.
His forehand is also getting the definition not only low but starting up higher on his shoulder blade...
Thoroughbreds don't normally develop heavy bulk muscle, but the long and lean muscle....
Horses are always a work-in-progress....

Those of us who take on, rehab and love the ones who fell on unfortunate circumstance...we are blessed to watch ours bloom back to healthiness.
It just takes time and devotion....did I mention LOVE!!! :wink:
:runninghorse2:.....
 
#13 ·
Exactly what @horselovinguy said. We spent 5 months over a very bitter winter (for here) refeeding a TWH gelding who was a body condition score of 1. None of our 5 vets thought he'd live through the winter, but he thrived, gained 500 lbs, and was cleared for riding on his 5th Birthday. It took another year of conditioning rides for him to develop a good hindquarter and muscles on his forequarters---his body still needed time to recover from the starvation despite being a good weight and having good nutrition. Today this gelding is my hubby's trail buddy, works cattle, and competes in jackpot roping successfully----we've had him almost 6 years and this is his permanent home.
 
#14 ·
I adopted her from a woman who adopted her from animal controk as a starvation case. She ate 24/7 same as here but lower quality hay had a worse forage belly with no butt muscle no chest muscle no top line.
She just walked a stall for 2 years.
With me she is turned out in a small turnout probably 5/7 days if its jot to humid.
She is ged by weight not volume.
She gets senior
Rice bran
Beet pulp
Weight builder vit supplement
Free fed bermuda
Now alfalfa in pm
Also gets 50/50 cubes

Her walk is more of a lumber and her trot is a jogwalk as she is gaited. If it was her choice she would always lumber lol

I guess i have to wait for it to cool off i hate summer time BLEH.
 
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