If you’re like me you’ve probably let the winter cold hold you inside, going out just long enough to feed, muck, and break ice on water buckets. All the while your horse just lazes around filling himself with hay 24/7.
Great, now it’s spring, the weather is nice and both you and your horse are plump and out of shape. What to do? Here are some tips to keep both you and your horse sound while legging up for long summer trail rides.
- Stretch your horse before and after riding
- Warm up and cool off. Never put your horse out if he’s steaming. Walk walk walk
- Gradually build up distance and speed over time. If you haven’t done much all winter start with a walking trail ride one day. Ring work the next day and another trail ride on day 3. After a couple of weeks of this move up to longer trail rides and incorporate trotting in them and eventually cantering.
- Call your friendly Farrier and get them sporting the latest in footware.
- Boots, protect your horses legs with spint or sport boots if they’ve been idle. Consult your vet if you’ve never used boots before.
- Play desensitizing games: walk over a tarp, pick up an unbrella, put on a raincoat, etc. If you have a nervous horse do these tasks in hand before mounting and use the buddy system.
- Best of all have FUN!
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