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Stabled Horse Exercises?

622 views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  KigerQueen 
#1 ·
So I decided to move Charlie from the pasture to the inside barn/outside run for the winter for a couple different reasons, one being he doesn't have a very thick winter coat yet and its getting cold. I considered blanketing him, but I didn't want his hair growth to stop so I decided to bite the bullet and pay a extra $100 for the inside boarding until spring then he will return to the pasture.

Anyways, my question is what exercises will benefit him the most on the days I work? I work 12 hr shifts 6 days in a row and I don't want him standing in a stall for 6 days in a row. So I'll be coming out for a hour or two to work with him. What will benefit him the most?

I want to make a schedule (I'm a planner :grin:) for the days I work then I'll know exactly what I will do when I get there instead of just puttering around for 5 minutes in the arena. There's an indoor arena with lights that I will use, so darkness won't hinder our rides.

So whats your guy's thoughts? Ground work? Bareback? Saddle time?

Heres the days​
  • Thrusday 7:30PM-9:00PM:
  • Friday 7:30PM-9:00PM:
  • Saturday 7:30PM-9:00PM:
  • Sundays 1:00PM-Home:
  • Monday 7:30PM-9:00PM:
  • Tuesday 7:30PM-9:00PM:
I go to church Wednesday night so he won't be ridden on Wednesday. On Sunday I don't work, I usually just head to the barn after church and lunch and stay there until 6 or 7 at night.

And then I have the next Thursday-Wednesday off, so he will be ridden every day by myself with my trainer/friends/etc.

So whats your inputs?​
 
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#2 ·
I'm a little confused...at one point you said you don't want him stalled all day but before that you said there's an outside run...is he free to go in/out as he wishes or are there turnout times?

I am not an expert on training, but I know for my horse, if it's been stalled all day I need to lunge him a bit before riding (maybe 10 min.). I don't have to do that if he's had turnout (which he usually does). Other than that, the riding I do is not different from any other time, but maybe it should be and I just don't know it.
 
#3 ·
So there's panels that attach to the barn that lets him walk outside, but its not big enough to let him trot around or anything like that. Here's some pictures. I'm mostly wondering if you guys have any fun exercises you enjoy doing with your horses. I'll mostly likely be riding by myself for the majority of the time, and idk if its just me but when I ride alone I tend to cut my rides shorter then they should be when I'm alone because I get bored and if I'm bored, I'm sure Charlie is bored.


 
#5 ·
I guess personal experience? One of the other boarders have had her horse blanketed since the end of September (it really doesn't drop before 40 at night until the end of October here) and he doesn't have a very thick winter coat where as all the other horses already have the cute moose look (thats what I call it LOL). This horse grew up in cold climates as well, so he should already be getting his coat, shouldn't he? I've also read a couple articles about how the blankets can interfere with the hair growth, or they can over heat if the temps raise, which here our temps can be 23 one day and the next is 45.

Charlie was born in Las Vegas, and then moved and lived in Texas until he came to me in July. He was so patchy with hair to begin with because the bugs were eating him alive in Texas, so its taking until September to get his hair growing back and healthy again. He doesn't have the winter coat yet, that's one of the main reasons I decided to put him inside rather then just blanket.

I'm also just a worried horse mom and I would rather him stay out of the elements EVEN though I know horses do it every day and survive fine. :P
 
#6 ·
If you choose to stable your horse, a light workout can be 10 minutes good, forward walking, 20 minutes trotting (mostly at a working trot), and 10 to 20 minutes of walking.

I consider exercise to be "fake work." Whether for humans or animals. And, I find most of it boring.

I prefer pasture for better circulation and digestion.
 
#7 ·
Blanketing won't stop hair growth but the fact that he's a desert horse and didn't come to you until July and had coat problems even then would make me blanket at least for this year. I moved from the So. Cal desert to OK and the horses didn't really acclimatize until about the 2nd year we were here. I put mine on pasture (blanketed) for the day and move them in to the barn at night. Most of the time a good midweight blanket is plenty of warmth for them. On days we have ice storms and get stuck in the single digits or with wind below zero, I leave them in or add a liner.

Your horse's hair coat may not catch up this year, so I'd go ahead and blanket and keep him in the barn so that he doesn't end up skinnier in spring than he went in for the winter. Next year, once he's been there a full year, he'll probably get a better coat.
 
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