BEFORE Mounting a Horse's Back
Hand walking is a great way to bond with our horses.
If a horse is unwilling, it could be trying to communicate pain. Listen to your horse.
Proper building of the back and efficient use of the hind end will prevent injury.
Walking up and down gradual slopes are good for building the hind end.
Neck stretches with a carrot to each side and between the front legs will help with core development. Core development helps to strengthen the back. It is good practice to do carrot stretches after every work out session. Give the horse a carrot with each stretch to boost confidence and encourage good practice. Passive stretching only is recommended. Forcing any stretch can cause injury.
If you allow your horse “to be a horse” or if you allowed your horse to rest and recover from an injury, this is always a good thing!
If your horse has been resting or stalled or pastured for 1+ months without being exercised or ridden, then you need to start over with ground work.
What is ground work?
Ground work includes: hand walking / round pen work / hand walking over cavaletti / walking up and down hills (slopes of about 15-25 degrees).
When we begin to train our horse again, start with 2-3 months of ground work, 4-5 days per week for 15-25 minutes BEFORE mounting our horse’s back.
Start with 15 minute round pen work outs in the first week, just walk in both directions.
GRADUALLY increase the work out time and GRADUALLY increase the challenge of work out sessions. Incorporate cavaletti walks and walking up and down hills.
Remember the “carrot stretches” after each session.
When we work with our horses, specifically in a round pen, it is good practice to keep a stop watch and exercise a horse equally in both directions in an effort to keep the horse balanced. Unless of course, you are working with an OTTB. OTTB usually have one side stronger than the other from working out on a track usually to the left (counter clockwise). During training we should observe if we notice one side being stronger than the other. To build up the weaker side this requires incrementally more work on the weaker side than the stronger side.
After 2-3 months of ground work, then you can start riding again.
Respect the horses back. Sit gently in the saddle and use a mounting block. Do not pull yourself into the saddle with all of your weight in one stirrup.
Begin riding with the same gradual method that was described for ground work.
If riding 3-4 days per week, start with walking only for 15 minutes during the first week. Then incorporate walking over cavalettis.
GRADUALLY increase the work out time 15-30 minutes over 1-2 months.
NOTE: Remember when you are riding, ALWAYS warm up the back with a 10 minute walk and cool down the back with a 10 minute walk.
If you only have time to ride for 20 minutes, then ride at a walk for 20 minutes.