Conditioning the Rescue Horse

We can start out with a reconditioning program of 15-30 minutes a day for the first week and work up to a hour a day from then on. In starting out I take into mind that I start each horse out like it is a two year old and
treat it as such so that I don't over work the muscles groups to the place of having sore muscles .
I start out doing a warm up at the walk to get the blood flowing to each muscle group in this work out of 5-10 minutes we set up cones 5-8 feet apart and weave in and out of each cone as we turn around and come out of the last cone we make the full circle around the out side of the arena or pasture or
where ever you are working.

The next 5-10 minutes we work on the slow trot twice around both ways to work both sides of the horse. Then we trot through the cones as we did at the walk only this time at a trot. I have to back up here a little because I said slow trot and don't be alarmed if the horse goes a little fast that's ok it takes muscle tone to slow down the trot. Let him get the hang of it even though it might be a little bumpy at first .After the first week and a half
as the muscles start building you will notice he will start slowing the trot down .

At all times watch your horse for signs of getting tired if he shows signs of dragging toes or sluggish reactions take him back to the walk and cool him off and stop for the day. After each session I like to give them a good rub down starting at the neck and working from the ears to the shoulders and using my thumbs I will massage the wither area working in a down ward motion to the elbow down to the hoof. At the back I start at the withers and let my hands rest over the back and take my thumbs and using circular motion work my way to the tail
dock . then I start at the point of the hip on the top and spread my hands out and using my thumbs massage each hip down to the hoof. Don't for get to do both sides of the horse . This will help keep the blood
flow to all muscle areas and you will help the horse not be sore in the end. After the first week to two weeks you can up your work out time to an hour at a time and a rest of 30 minutes and then work for another hour or so.

What I like to do is work 3 days and the fourth day take them out on a easy trail ride this way the horse doesn't get arena sour . Even though you trail ride you can still work on building muscles with using trees as your cones and going over objects . After you have worked on building up muscles again say for about 4 weeks
hen you can start to work on collecting the horse up and using PVC pipe or round fence post about 5-6 feet apart then you can start working on helping the horse get his feet up under himself. This will help him not be so strung out like the front end is out walking the back end. These exercises will also help with balance of the horse for him to go on to the lope and canter.