Months off, show in a month

[JumpingHeart]

I have let my horse have the last 3 months off due to school and me being sick. I now want to bring her back and there is a show I want to go to with her in a month.

Any help on getting her back in shape? Also, Before she went on break, she had been bucking with me alot when i asked her to canter or after a jump she would go a few strides and then try bucking. I have felt her back and I dont think she is in pain. I have gotten to the point where I anticipate and I make it so she can't buck, bt she still tries and I would perfer her not to in the show ring. Suggestions?

[Bay Mare]

If she's had 3 months off you're going to need a saddle check anyway. If the bucking came on suddenly there may have been a saddle issue before she had time off so I'd get a back check done as well.

With regards to bringing her back into work it will depend how much fitness she's lost. If she's been turned out for 3 months she will probably have maintained a basic level of fitness so it will be easier to bring her back into work again.

[Glider]

To be honest, if she's had 3 months off, I'd be looking at at least 2 months until you could do a ridden show. She'll need 2-3 weeks walk work as an absolute mininum before you start trotting (I do a month) if you want to avoid muscle strains etc. Then short bursts of trot, building up slowly over the next couple of weeks, then start cantering, and then jumping when she's cantering fit. Could you do some of the less demanding (of her fitness) classes at the show?

I agree with Bay mare about the saddle, and you could get her back checked too. Having said that, it may be that she gets excited after a jump (lots do) and riding her so she can't do it is the best way to solve the issue.

[JumpingHeart]

fo the show it is now at the end of march instead of the beginning of march so I ctally have 2 months which is better. As for the classes they will be less demading like Itty Bitty Hunter and Novice Equitation.

For the walk work, what would be some good excersises?

[xxxkristinaxxx]

road work is a must to build up those tendons i think.
Walking around in the school for say 20mins a day just doing 20metre circles and change of rein etc.

[kirstie]

If shes been off for three months altogether, i'd first get on her in the menage for 10 minutes and go for a short 20 minutes walk out, just make sure that shes not sluggish, she should still be going forward, build the length of hacking up to over an hour in three/four week period and introduce some trotting again out hacking, for 3 weeks and in the last week building upto your show one small canter.

ETA - The bucking if new get the saddle checked out like bay mare has suggested if thats ok, then prehaps she has a problem with her back or teeth?

[Styric]

What are you doing in the show?

[JumpingHeart]

I want to do itty bitty hunter, novice equitation and beginner junior rider. all easy stuff.

I know its not her teeth cause she got them done a few months ago and when she got them done it didnt have any effect. I think i will get the saddle checked. I also dont think its her back cause i have run my hands along it with varying pressures and there wasnt any sign she was sore though i can never be definate till i get a vet to check it out if i must.

Thanks for all the advice so far and any other future notes.