feeding

[Elaine]

How soon after a horse is fed his grain can he be ridden? How long should the warm-up be? thanks

[Allie]

Conventional wisdom always said atleast one hour...but I think it depends on the level of activity. I know fat pasture horses who were fed and then ridden immediately, with both trot and canter work, with absolutely no problems. We usually fed after we ride, because then we can adjust the amount of food for the level of work. My horses are pasture horses, so they only get fed when we ride, and then immediately turned out, so we feed right after riding, providing they are properly cooled off. This was probably no help at all, as I gave about three different answers :) If the horse has no history of colic or other such problems, I don't think you will have any problems.

Allie

[hlstarmie]

I also feed after riding but i know that you should not ride for at least 1 hour after the horse has been fed.
If you look at it from his point of view, would you like to eat a meal then run up the hill or whatever?!!! No i dont think so.
I hope this helps.

[Sarah]

hello!

I ahve also been told that a horse shouldn't be ridden for 1 hour after it has been fed and that if you are feeding afterwards the horse must have cooled down completely before its dinner.

How long to warm up for is a very broad question. It depends on several factors including the following:

1. The age and general fitness of the horse.
2. What you are wanting to do in your riding session ( no point in warming up for 30 mins if you only want to ride for a few minutes in walk whereas if you are about to ride round Badminton then a 30 mins warm up may almost be on the short side for some horses).
3. How relaxed the horse is in its attitude to life, do you need to use the 'warm up' as a calming down session or as a getting some response from the horse session.

When warming up the general rule is to do some things in walk, then trot , then canter, on both reins both in straight lines and on curves (circles and serpentines for example if you are in a school). If you let us know what you do with your horse and how fit he is, we can maybe give you some better advice.

bye!

[Elaine]

Thank you everyone for the replies.
The reason I ride later in the day is because of the heat. By the time I get to the barn most of the horses are fed. I tried riding him before he was fed and he was kinda grumby and upset to watch other horses eat their grain.
He is in his teens and in good physical condition. The reason I do a warm-up is because he is very stiff in the hind legs and they need to be relaxed before I do anything. I ride for a hour.

[Sarah]

hello!

i can totally understand how your horse may be cross if you are riding him while his friends have their tea, i know I would be cross to miss out on dinner when my friends are eating!

Can you wait till 1hr after his dinner to ride him? then he can have digested his meal and won't have to work while the others have dinner. You are sensible to avoid the heat in the middle of the day for riding.

I should imagine that 10-15 mins warm up would do your horse fine, if he seems stiff the day after you have ridden then maybe you need to take te warm up slower for a bit longer. Let your horse be the guide.

bye!