Fitness - how quick to lose it?

[Lovecat]

I was hoping those more experienced than me could provide some guidance here....

As you may or may not know, I have been unable to ride the Murphster for the last 12 weeks. In that time, until 3 weeks ago he was going on the horsewalker for half an hour every day, getting ridden twice a week in the school during the week for about 30mins each and 2 good 2-3 hour hacks on Saturday and Sunday.

Due to a combination of circumstances (the friends who've been exercising him have had holidays, new jobs etc.), it turns out that Murphy hasn't actually been ridden for the last 3 weeks. Further investigation has uncovered that he hasn't been going on the horsewalker for the last 2 weeks either, as there has been a recent high turnover of staff and the new ones 'didn't realise'....:rolleyes:

When the friend whose husband hacks him out at the weekends spoke to me on Monday, she said that in all conscience she didn't feel her OH should hack him out with her as Murph's fitness had gone downhill so badly she didn't think he could cope with 2 hours out.

While I appreciate her concern, I'm a little peturbed that a horse can lose fitness so quickly... Murphy is a big boy and was never truly in tip-top condition, being ridden 4-5 times a week max previously, but even so, to go so totally downhill in 3 weeks?

Is this right, and does anyone have any tips on how I go about getting him back in condition, bearing in mind:

a) he won't lunge

b) I can't ride him at the moment?

Thanks....:)

[Mehitabel]

has he been out during the day, or does he live out?
i wouldn't do a 2 hour fast (WTC) hack on a horse that had done nothing for 3 weeks. i'd do an hour, and if he'd been living out 24/7 then i'd do a slow 2 hour - WT only, as they do move around and will keep themselves fit to some extent.
just like people, they do vary in how fast they lose condition - you normally find that the ones who struggle to get fit will go downhill fast, while the ones that cope with more work sooner, the atural athletes, will maintain fitness longer.

why hasn't he been being ridden in the week? that seems like the obvious way to regain his fitness.

[Lovecat]

Thanks Es - he hasn't been ridden in the week as my friend who rode him then has changed jobs and is now being sent out of the office all over Essex at very short notice, so she hasn't been able to get to see him - she has a horse of her own and is doing me a big favour riding him in her spare time, so I can't really complain! Can't find anyone else to ride him except for people I wouldn't let anywhere near him on principle!

He's out in the mornings every day from 8am til 12.30pm.

I'm going to get him put back on the horsewalker on a daily basis, but given that I'm trying to get loaners/sharers for him, ideally I'd like him to be up to scratch on the fitness front, I can't see many people wanting to take on a green AND unfit horse...:(

Anyone in West Essex like to take up this thrilling challenge....???;)

[Mehitabel]

that's difficult. if i had the time i'd love to, but i don't, unfortunately. does the yard do lessons or hacks - could he be escort horse for staff members or lesson horse for trainee staff? that's what petal does to tick over in the week.

[anuvb]

Technically, in humans, it is supposed to only take two weeks to lose any muscle build up (why oh why does it take soooo much longer to build it back up? Life is so unfair). I suspect it's similar for horses. Having said that Murphy wasn't fit to start with so it's unlikely that any muscle loss would result in a noticeable drop in fitness in his case anyway.

Can't help with the loan situation I'm afraid! :(

[Tor&Warrior]

I've got a book here all about fitening horses. Its talking about getting Eventers fit but it can't be much different, the end result just going to be such a high level of fitness. It says that as long as the horse is getting good turn out every single day and is not being overly fed resulting in great weight gain that the horse can be left easily for 2 weeks without loosing any fitness at all. It says 3 day eventers will often be left 2 weeks after a big event to rest and they would still be fit enough to come straight out of the field and go eventing within a matter of a few days. I know its 3 weeks but it seems unlikely that he's going to of lost a great deal of fitness.

I'll persuade my parents to move to West Essex as I'd love to ride him for you! Especially as it looks like I'm going to be horseless for the next year as Flytes more than likely done a tendon. I hope you can find somebody for him. I wouldn't of thought you'd have any problem he's a babe!

[Lovecat]

Thanks very much for the replies, much appreciated :) .

Es, as you said, he couldn't cope right now with the 2-3hr fast (WTC) hack that he was previously going on at the weekends - it took him about 2 months of weekend riding out at W&T to build up to that stage initially, so I'd imagine he'll need a good few weeks to get back there now. My old YO did say once to me that Murph's such a heavily-built chap that he's never going to have the 'fitness' that a lighter horse is capable of, but he will have stamina.... eventually!

I had yesterday afternoon off and spent most of it down at the yard, playing with Murph (to make up for worming him), and got chatting to the yard manager, whose 3 yr old is stabled next door. Turns out that her boy is going on holiday for 2 months next week and she very kindly offered to lunge (if she can't do it, no-one can!) or long-rein and ride him for me while her Harry's away. I also spoke to the YO and he hadn't realised that Murph wasn't getting on the horsewalker, he has promised me he'll personally see to it that fatboy gets his 30 minutes every day! (ha! that'll be a shock to his system!)

I've also been given the number of someone I know vaguely, who used to share one of the liveries, he's a really nice bloke and has been looking for a share ever since 'his' horse got sold, so I'm going to give him a call tonight and see what transpires... both he and his teenage daughter ride and, having seen them in action on the 'devil-horse' that they used to share, I know that they're both 'quiet' riders, so hopefully they'll be interested.

Aargh, wretched GP, why couldn't she have said I was okay to ride?!?:p

[entreat]

Can I ask why he can't lunge?

[Lovecat]

Not so much can't as won't...

I've tried, two of my friends who are quite experienced have tried, it's all ended in tears!

Murphy is very 'joined up' to people (not through my doing!), follows me about like a labrador and does not like going away from me. While this makes catching him a doddle, it took me 4 months of Kelly Marks' exercises to get him to stand without following while I walked away from him and I can still only get about 6 foot away before he starts to get anxious and wants to come in to me!

On the lunge, he will just about circle in walk and trot going anticlockwise, (he powertrots rather than canters) but the minute you try and turn him in the opposite direction, he panics and will not let you get on the other side of his head.

This is only in the lungeing context - he will let me lead him from either side and doesn't mind me standing on that side of him while grooming etc. He becomes so distressed by it that in the end I gave up on it because I felt he was getting negative associations with lungeing and I didn't want to give him a complex about it (maybe I'm being wimpish here, but he *really* gets very upset and he's such a good-natured little button normally!).

What I was doing prior to getting pregnant was occasionally 'freeschooling' him by running around the school in circles, as he is happy to follow me about the manege. Unfortunately I run out of puff in about 5 minutes flat these days and I could never run fast enough even when fit to get him into canter!

Ouch, that was an essay and a half!:o

[entreat]

Ahh, ok.

I'm having trouble with Cav of a similar nature. He wouldn't lunge - would come in look at me with 'butter would melt' eyes. Then I managed to get a walk of a quarter circle. great! :rolleyes:

I thought he was being cute, but after talking to some people & doing some reading, I found he was asserting his dominance over me in a big way & that's when the lunge whip came out. I may get flamed for saying it, but yes - I whipped him in the bum. He kicked out in a big way, but that day I got a really nice active walk, with no turning in. I didn't ask for anything more than walk 'cause I figure that was all our relationship could hold at that time.

The next week, he was asked to trot. I got big arguments to begin with (just like the walk - kicking at the whip, not at me), but I got a couple strides of trot, but on the right rein (clockwise), he was pretty confused & stiff. If I asked for a better trot, he turned instantly to the other rein & gave me either a nice walk or trot. I thought this was weird.

Finally, last week, I got some canter! It was buck filled, but I didn't have to whip his bum to get him there! And he did a fair bit of power-trot, but gave up after a while. His left rein went nicely, but his right rein was aweful! When he got into canter (usually preceded by 2 or 3 bucks), he could only hold it for about 2 or 3 strides before falling out or trying to turn around.

I'm thinking that he is MUCH more comfortable on the left rein, and because of his poor condition & fitness, he wants to do what feels better, so always goes to the left.

The point of this rant is: Is it possible Murph has been trying it on? Partly to be dominant & partly because he's a big (and inherently) unfit boy?

I felt horrible every time I used the whip, but I knew Cav would alway be taking the micky if I didn't. Now I have a horse that is progressing nicely (in my opinion), and we're able to work on his rebuilding his wasted muscles.

[Lovecat]

Food for thought.... they sound very similar!

Murph is definitely more comfortable on the left rein, he will canter all around the school in that direction whereas you're lucky if you can get 2 steps out of him the other way around.

I must admit, the first time I tried to lunge him, after about half an hour of failing to even get to stand on his left hand side, I got so frustrated with him that I snapped the lunge whip at his heels - didn't affect him but it shocked me & made me realise that the way I was feeling (v. angry & frustrated!), I really shouldn't be standing there with a big whip in my hand.... so I probably have let him away with murder because I don't want to get myself that wound up with him again!

However, the two friends who've tried to lunge him are both far more experienced than me and had the same problems - I've asked the yard manager if I can come watch when she has a go with him, as she used to own a very similarly-built horse who, apparently, was even worse than Murphs when it came to canter - it'll be interesting to see what methods she uses....

[nat17]

LC, Podge does not 'do' lunging either! He cant work out why I keep moving! And just follows anywhere and everywhere I go! I am not too bothered by it as he is turned out 24/7 so gets his exersise etc. One day the light might turn on in his head! ;)