"Pt 4 Restarting, Conditioning, and Great Exercises For Your Horse"

Howdy Folks,

 

I started this series when, with glee, I announced 2 weeks ago on facebook I'd be riding again on September 1 (today and truthfully, I rode yesterday, so we could get these pictures). I'd been sidelined 4 months with my cardiac adventure, and I briefly described my routine for getting my mare, Kessy, back in shape after our time off. A few friends asked what I do to restart a horse, so I figured it might make an interesting series.

This is the final installment of that 4 part series about restarting an idle horse. The first 3 parts discussed and demonstrated ground work exercises to release, relax and help create proper body carriage, posture and self awareness. The focus of this series is restarting a horse after time off, but these exercises are excellent any time, and I recommend them for every horse care givers routine. Many of them I do every time before I ride. Always. I do not believe in lunging as warm up, rather I do these exercises.

First ride after 4 months off, Kessy and Saturday are lovin' it! Me too! She really is walking, she's just walkin' big!

Some folks say horses in big pastures or in track system Paddock Paradise type living don't need to be restarted. In my opinion that's wrong. They may not be as out of shape as a stalled or small lot kept horse, but they are not fit to ride any sort of time or distance. If we want to be fair, safe and healthy. Sure we may get away with just tossing on the saddle and heading out for an hour or two ride after a horse has been idle a few months, not only is it not fair, but the damage we do will eventually catch up with us. And our horse.

It's important for the health of your horse to get them back in shape for rides; a horse loses its cardio fitness in about 30 days, muscles about the same, and tendon, bone in about 90 days. I started Kessy's restart 2 weeks ago with the carrot stretches, and shared them on our Coffee Clutch blog. Then for the past 10 days I've done each of the exercises we've discussed in parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series once a day, exactly in the order I showed them. 

The entire routine takes Kessy and me 30 minutes now. The first days it took 40 minutes, for even though she has a Paddock Paradise, she was somewhat out of shape. I even found stiffness in her neck and hind legs, not really noticeable by just watching her, but by golly the exercises sure brought it to light. She improved quickly and by days 5 and 6 was close to back to her limber self, but even this morning she told me her hind legs were not yet perfect.

Imagine had I simply tossed on the saddle and went merrily along for an hour's ride, without the days of restart exercises, the stress it would have put on tight muscles and tendons. Sure she'd have done what I asked because she trusts me and is trained to, but she'd not have enjoyed it, and the discomfort would have chipped away at her trust and enthusiasm. I wonder how many horses are disciplined and sent for training, or sold, because their owners misunderstood their expressions of discomfort for bad behavior.

So now we're back in the in the saddle and I'm taking in the world from the best seat God ever gave us. But we're still getting back in shape. Yea me too, but I'm not the important one here. We start with 15 minute rides every day for about a week. Some folks say that's silly for a horse that was as fit as Kessy before the idle time. But it's not.

There is much that needs to happen in those first rides back. Think about all the areas the tack touches, the big muscles along the spine, the girth area, even the headstall, all are out of shape and need to come back. And every part of her needs to readjust to carrying weight, her back, legs, muscles, bones, heart, lungs, tendons and feet. And her vascular system. So 15 minutes a day for about a week, preferably on a trail so it's not in a ring always turning, is the first step.

Oh and I reckon I should mention here, I'm not a fan of lunging, for exercise, or any reason, so that's why it's not part of our routine. Don't like round pens either, but that's a subject for another day. And yes, I believe even show horses are better served on the trail than the ring. In fact I believe for every hour in the ring there should be 2 on the trail.

 As I said, our first rides this week will be 15 – 20 minutes over the same course I walked for my cardio rehab. The following week we'll add time, about 10 minutes every other day, and mix in a little terrain change, and begin to ask for a little gaiting, about 3 – 5 minutes a time. 

The week after that we'll add more distance, a little more gaiting and more terrain change. By mid-week 4 we should be comfortably up to an hour with 15 – 20 minutes of gaiting. It takes about 30 days to get a horse minimally fit … when I trained for CTC and Endurance I learned it takes 60 days for cardio, 90 – 120 for muscle and a year for bone and tendon to condition.

All along I'll continue the exercises, and by the end of the month I can fine tune the exercises to the top-line exercises, pretty neck, the one step and rock back, which I do every time before I ride. I do the leg and circle pulls and the rest every now and then. Cool down, I'll do the top-line again.

So there you have it, the way I like to restart, or simply maintain a horse. Of course there's a lot more, but I gotta go ride, and you've probably had all of me you can take. Kessy and I hope you enjoyed this little series, and will incorporate these great exercises into your daily routine.

End of our first ride on the restart, we wish you happy trails!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

You can read Pt 1 HERE

You can read Pt 2 HERE

You can read Pt 3 HERE

"Pt-2 Restarting, Conditioning, and Great Exercises For Your Horse"

Howdy Friends,

Yesterday we talked about the importance of restarting a horse after time off and learned about the Top-Line release and relax exercises, which I like to suggest become a part of every horse care givers routine. Today we'll have a look at exercises for the body and legs. It's important to note, always do these ground tied or in a stall so the horse is free to move. Have no hay or grass in your exercise area, you want them focused on you and their release. Do not discipline during exercises as that will short circuit any release. Be sure to watch for and allow sighs, licks and chews. Your horse may ask for a little walk to absorb these new feelings, walk them if they ask for a minute, then begin again.

After I do the Top-Line I move to the front legs with the Armpit Release. This exercise will begin to release the tension in the chest muscles, and helps with girthy horses, and begins the reconnection to their feet. Remember, do both sides.

Stand straddling her leg, in neutral your knees slightly bent, place your palms inside her leg and gently slide your hands up into her armpit keeping your palms against her leg. Keep gently pushing up allowing her to release the tension in her muscles and continue to move into the space opened by her release until you can go no farther, then release slowly. Note – Some horses are so tight they may try to bite, you made need to first get her used to your hands touching the inside of her leg, then in time move your hands into her armpit.

Next the Shoulder Delineation. This exercise will release the tension along the base of the neck, the withers, and forehand, and begin to correct the inversion muscles, and help maintain proper soft posture. Remember do both sides.

Immediately following Armpit Release, leaving one hand in armpit, with your other hand search for the crease in the center of the chest muscles on this leg, not the center of the chest, starting at the base. When you find the crease (in the beginning this could be hard to find, you may need to make it) gently dig your fingers in, and walk up the crease toward the neck. (You can see Kessy's crease, and you can also see the line from my fingers down to her arm pit where I started, go deep, but be gentle) Then bring your other hand up to help, and walk them both up, using fingers to dig the crease, between neck and shoulder. Continue up over and around the shoulder blade back down to her arm pit. In many spots you may not find a crease, many horses are so tight from poor posture, stress and even tack and riding, that it may take time to develop the looseness, but it will come. Remember to do both sides. Many times the horse will turn their head toward you in an attempt to release the crease, that's a good thing.

Next Pretty Neck, or Inversion Muscle Release. This exercise will release the tension in the neck muscles and bones and poll. It also begins to correct the inverted neck and tight chest muscles, and allows for free flowing movement and aids in getting horses off their forehand. (As you might guess, I'm very anti tie-down, and these exercises mentioned so far today will help eliminate the need for them.) Remember to do both sides.

Look at her chest just below the neck for the muscle we call the inversion muscle. It will appear as a vertical muscle just about where the neck meets the chest, some are easy to see, others not. Gently grasp the muscle as I do here, and squeeze from the BOTTOM up, like milking only backwards. Watch for her to arch her neck like Kessy is here. Some horses will back up, because they think you're asking that, or sometimes they are so tight and sore they can't arch their neck. I like to rest my other hand on their withers to give them support. Just walk with her and keep trying and in a few seconds, if your hand is at the correct place, and you're squeezing from the bottom, you'll see an attempt. Release quickly. But when she begins to master it hold a few seconds so she can get the big release. In time she will soften, and soften and give you beautiful neck stretch and release.

Next Withers Rock. This exercise releases the shoulders, neck and spine and aids in free flowing movement and balance.

Stand beside your horse both hands resting on the withers and gently wiggle, not moving the horse, just wiggling her withers. Then start over and ever so gently rock her back and forth about 5 times. We are not looking for big movement, just enough to see her shift her body but not her feet. Think a swaying motion, but less.

Next  Shoulder Circles. This exercise releases tension in the shoulders, chest, neck and withers, and creates soft fluid strides and increases body awareness, balance and posture.

Hold her leg about at the knee and fetlock (my left hand should be nearer her or on her knee) and do about 5 small gentle circles left and right. Allow no movement in the knee as this could cause damage; we are looking for movement in the shoulder. Be sure to stay under her shoulder, don't pull it toward you. Notice Kessy's lowered head enjoying the release.When finished set her foot down, don't drop it. Remember to do both sides.

These relax, release and body, foot and posture awareness exercises I learned while working with my mentor Diane Sept for nearly a decade. From Diane, a "Senior Certified Connected Riding Instructor ®," I learned the techniques of Peggy Cummings, Connected Riding and Ground Work® and Linda Tellington Jones, Tellington TTouch Training ™. I highly recommend their training and books. In their books you'll find these and many more excellent exercises.

Tomorrow, in Pt 3 we'll look at a few exercises for the hind legs and body posture and correct soft carriage.

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry 

You can read Pt 1 HERE 

You can read Pt 3 HERE    

You can read Pt 4 HERE 

"Paddock Paradise and the Track System For The Health Of Your Horse"

Howdy Friends,

 

Horses love to move about. Jamie Jackson, after years of studying and observing wild hoses not only gained a vast understanding of the natural way of the horse, and their feet which he was instrumental in bringing to the horse world, but he also learned how horses move in the wild. He put his observations on horse movement, travels, health and habits into his book he titled, "Paddock Paradise," I highly recommend it. You can buy his book here on Amazon – in it he clearly explains his observations and details how anyone, anywhere, can create a track system for their horses. You can also make a lot of friends on the Paddock Paradise facebook page who have implemented this practice for their own horses. (Photos for this story provided by Paddock Paradise FB)

One of the many things Jamie observed, noted and proved, was that horses left to their own choices in the wild, move in regular tracks. They have well established routes, or tracks, for grazing areas, watering, resting, foraging and even playing, and they don't graze in lush grass, they nibble and browse, while moving. It is these known facts that he incorporated into his idea of Paddock Paradise, and many folks have adopted. I believe it is the most natural and healthiest way to house and keep a horse.

Great track system - notice how you can add fun little obstacles to keep them thinking.

The track system goes hand in hand with maintaining a barefoot horse's feet, strong, beautiful, and healthy. Movement is a key ingredient to the barefoot paradigm, and nothing I have ever seen encourages movement like the track system. Lush grass, lazy grazing is as unnatural to a horse as couch potato sitting and gorging is to humans … but we lazy humans force it on our horses, and then wonder about a plethora of health issues. Stalls, barns and shoes are a human convenience, not a horse first philosophy.

A simple example of a track system

Many times folks say, "It looks too inconvenient or expensive to set up." To that I say, in the long run, and even the not so long run, it will be far less expensive than vet bills, injuries, and anguish – the person's and the horse's – and missed riding and competing dates due to injuries. Yes the track system works for shod as well as barefoot horses … and folks who know me know I believe every horse should be barefoot. One very wrong answer to the "too much grass" syndrome is to confine their horses in stalls, use frustrating grazing muzzles, small paddocks or "sacrifice" lots. Rubbish all. None of these things are either natural to a horse, or healthy to their bodies or minds. Let the horses roam at will, I say.

Just roaming along, because we can.

Paddock Paradise, or the track system, incorporates every aspect of a horse's natural and instinctive urge and desire to be on the move. Explained briefly, the track system is a track 10 to 20 feet wide inside your already existing big pasture, (which may have too much grass) with various footings such as dirt, pea gravel and rocks. Also incorporated within the track are wide places for play, sleeping and rolling, as well as various hay feeding stations and watering locations, and run ins, strategically placed to encourage movement. Many folks add mud holes, streams and bridges to help their horses overcome issues, or just for fun.

Hay feeding stations and water should be scattered about to encourage movement.

Your track can be any design that fits your land, plan, and budget. I once saw a terrific track on an acre and a half rocky, grassy hillside that offered long winding trails instead of just a useless hang out spot.

Many folks, when they set up their first track, simply use step in posts with electric fence, easy and very affordable, and if the horses escape the track, they're still within the original pasture. Of course the original grass pasture can be opened for limited grazing with far less risk of over eating and all the health problems associated with the high sugar content of most pasture and field grasses.

Here is a good example of a field that is conducive to creating all sorts of health problems, but can easily be turned into a Paddock Paradise by simply running a track system around the border full of entertaining obstacles, watering and feeding stations.

Another common rejection to creating the track system is, "We have all this grass and we can't afford to not use it." Some folks then bale it or even graze a few cows on it. Sometimes it takes years for the symptoms of sugar related health issues to show up in horses, but don't be fooled, eventually symptoms are likely to occur – often not connected to the true cause of too much grass and not enough movement.

Bottom of my mare, Kessy's, foot - She roams her Paddock Paradise all day and all night.

The Paddock Paradise, and track system is the easiest, best choice for maintaining a healthy horse and healthy hooves. Combined with proper all forage diet, limited vaccinations and very limited chemical de-worming (I recommend fecal counts, have not wormed Kessy chemically for 3 years, I do use herbs though), the track system will create rock crushing hooves, and a happy healthy horse.
 

Don't forget to make a wide soft place for napping.

For the health and happiness of horses everywhere it is my hope many more people begin to see horse care from the horse's perspective.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Natural Horse Magazine-Feature Friday"

Howdy Friends,
 

Natural Horse Magazine is one of the finest, if not the finest magazine available to equine enthusiasts who endeavor to care for their horses, naturally. A quarterly publication, both on line and in print, each issue is packed with valuable information, resources, contacts and knowledge, and pages graced with stunning photographs. Each issue is a journal on equine wellness, and should be kept for future reference. In the manner of full disclosure, I have a column in Natural Horse Magazine, "Holistic Hall of Fame."

Natural Horse Magazine was founded by Randi & Gene Peters in January 1999 as a result of the holistic rehabilitation of one of their mares. Prior to this rehab, the mare had developed several problems, one of which was a severe reaction to fly bites that traditional treatment could not cure. After attending an holistic veterinarian's seminar on herbs and homeopathy, his examination of the mare's real problem (immune system derangement from over-vaccinating), was revealed and through homeopathy, her health was restored. It became Randi and Gene's vision to offer an educational resource on holistic horse care and Natural Horse Magazine was created.

On Auguest1st, 2012 Randi and Gene Peters, co-founders of Natural Horse Magazine, handed its reins to one of the industry's most recognized holistic equine experts, Lisa Ross-Williams. Lisa is not new to the world of educating people about the advantages of caring for their horses in a natural manner she hosted a radio show on the topic for a number of years, was an editor of Equine Wellness Magazine, has been the Associate Editor for Natural Horse Magazine for a number of years, owns the successful Equi-Spirit Toys Company, and is the author of the bestselling book, "Down-to-Earth Natural Horse Care," which I reviewed HERE, and recommend every equine caregiver have as resource.

"Our focus is on humane and natural alternatives to today's traditional means of horse care, including topics in alternative and complementary medicines and therapies as well as wholesome nutrition, cooperative training, natural care and maintenance of the horse and his environment, book and video reviews, special events, a youth section, and more," Lisa explains. "We are proud to be working with many prominent, naturally-inclined equine professionals who share our goal of educating horse lovers about natural ways FOR the horse."

In today's busy, busy world many of us simply don't have the time to read magazines. Friends, I highly suggest you subscribe to Natural Horse Magazine, read and explore the articles. Your horse will thank you.

Have a look at their web site HERE    And their Facebook page HERE

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry