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What are examples of "refresher" exercises for a trail horse?
I am looking for specific "how-to" videos or articles on exercises for refreshing a trail horse from the ground and in the saddle. I've tried Googling and looking on You-Tube, but nothing that is instructional. Horse is a 4 yr old grade gelding that was professionally trained, but has been ridden few and far between since. I am leasing him. NOTE: All exercises will be done with the permission of the owner. Hiring a trainer is not an option, so please don't suggest it and lessons aren't available.
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- i read this in a horse magazine not word for word, but from my memory, and i do this every spring to get my horses back in shape. ride him for two weeks every day at the WALK gait only, to freshen up his reaction to pressure, and to remind him of the bit and basics leg aids. after that see where he is, if he's responding well move on to the trot,if he is not responding well continue at the walk, go on longer trail rides, each time you ride, go farther! dismount and mount in different spots (if you can) do that for a week maybe more depending on the horse. trot hills, and walk long walks, walk over poles, trot over them.. then you can move up to the canter wich will take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months to get down.
- just slowly build him up in an arena till hes back to working level ya know start out walk jog and sloly work ur way up to lope do some poles to get him to focus and then u should be fine he shouldn't take that much retraining at all
- at 4 he is a youngster, and professionally trained or not he is green still. your best bet is to get him out with other calm experienced trail horses. that not being do able work on the ground with him for a week or two. He'll give you clues as to how long he needs to remember. work in a ring for some of the time and take him out and walk him along a short trail if you have it. after two weeks you should be able to get on him and walk/trot.. go out and try walking the trail you've already done with him. Be prepared to bail if needed, and for some spooking Again a older calm horse would be a god send for you at this point often a baby will walk behind a old hand and never batt a eye at strange things.
