How to Bring a Horse Back into Work

When it comes to real life, the term “Getting back on the horse” is a little easier said than done. Whether it was to give them a needed rest before the competition season or they’ve been recovering from an injury, there’s more to getting a horse back into work after a break than you’d expect. 

That’s why we’ve put together our list of top tips for returning your horse to work. 

Much like how humans need a rest from work every now and again to rest recuperate, so do some horses. The constant training for competition season can be intense, and pushing your horse too far without the necessary time to heal can make your horse more prone to injury as well as have an impact on your horse mentally. 

Giving your horse a break of between 8 - 12 weeks is typically recommended to allow the necessary time for your horse's muscles, joints, and tendons to rest and relax. That said, every horse is different, and for some, rest just isn’t part of the equation, in which case giving them less time may be more beneficial to their wellbeing. 

Naturally, horses who have had a break from work may not be in the same fitness or agility condition as before they took their rest. This is nothing to be worried about. We’re here to offer some tips for how you can make the transition from rest to training a little easier on your horse. 

The first thing you need to do is to give your horse a health check to ensure everything is in the right working order. Trying to train with a horse that isn’t in the right physical or mental state to do so could lead to serious consequences, including unnecessary stress or even injury to yourself or your horse. 

There are a few key areas to focus on for a general horse health check, including:

• Their eyes, ears, mouth and nose — Are there any signs of blockages, discharge, swelling or unpleasant odours?
• Body and coat condition — Are there any lumps, cuts or grazes, hair loss, or signs of parasites?
• Their feet — Are there any trapped stones, grit or cracks in the hooves? Is there any heat from the hoof or signs of tenderness?
• Their teeth (particularly in young horses) 
• Their mobility — No lameness or stiffness in the limbs or uneven balance.
• Their behaviour — are they alert and interested in their surroundings? Are they showing signs of aggression or anxiety?

If you’re an experienced horse owner, then you may be able to complete these checks yourself, though you should still have your horse assed by a professional equine vet, farrier, and dental technician at your usual intervals. 

As well as your horse's health and well-being, you should also assess their tack is all in good working order before you begin training again. 

Your horse’s nutritional needs change with the level of exercise they do, so when they take a break and when they come back to work, you’ll need to readjust their feed. 

Now, this doesn’t need to be done immediately, at least not any significant changes. While they’re in the early stages of their training reintroduction (the walking stage), hay and grass may be sufficient. This will all depend on your horse’s condition, so check to see if: 

• Your horse has gained or lost weight 
• Your horse's muscles and joints are in good condition
• Your horse's energy levels are higher or lower than usual
• Your horse has been diagnosed with any health concerns 
• Your horse has entered into a different life stage (such as yearling to adolescent, adolescent to adult, or adult to senior)

If any of the above things are applicable, then you may need to reevaluate the concentration of your horse's feed before entering the later stages of training. 

Remember that changing your horse’s feed needs to be done slowly, typically over a week or more. Make sure you speak with your equine veterinarian to find the most appropriate feed for your horse. 

Bringing your horse back to work needs to be done gradually, no matter your practice. By planning your training sessions ahead of time, you can ensure you don’t push your horse too early. You can always readjust if you see your horse struggling or exceeding your expectations.

The following is a general plan to get your horse back into work 

1. Start with lunging. As your horse hasn’t been ridden for a while, they may be a bit over-excited, and this can help take the edge off and also help you to evaluate their condition. 
2. Practice getting onboard again, especially if your horse is a youngster. Let them adjust to having someone on their back again. This can also make the process smoother in later stages of training. 
3. Stick to walking for the first 4-6 weeks on flat surfaces or tracks for 20-30 minutes at a time. Towards the end of this phase, you can also introduce some hill work to help build up your horse’s muscle strength and help get them back to their pre-rest fitness level. 
4. Introduce trotting to your plan over the next 4-6 weeks. Make sure you start at a walk and trot in small bursts before returning back to walking. You can then build up the length of trotting intervals if you think your horse is ready. 
5. Cantering can be brought into the fitness plan over the next 4-6 weeks in the same way a trot was. Start with small 1-2 minute bursts followed by a trot and repeat this across the session. These bursts can then be increased gradually, and you can even bring schooling here too.

Make sure you monitor your horse’s condition throughout each phase of the training, and don’t move on until you’re sure they’re ready. Nobody knows your horse better than you do, and by working at their speed, you can help build trust and prevent the risk of any injury or overexertion.

Every horse is different, and what works for one won't work for all of them. Take into account your horse’s age, ability, and condition while planning your sessions. 

Depending on the horse, getting your horse back into training might be easier said than done. Make sure you do so gradually at your horses’ speed, and if you think they need extra support, then adding some quality horse supplements to their feed might do the trick. 

As you increase your horse's exercise time, you can try horse muscle supplements like the Audevard Ekyflex Nodolox to optimise muscle recovery. We’d recommend adding this to your horse’s feed once a day during the first week of training. After this, you should only use it after particularly intense sessions. If your horse needs an additional boost, then there’s also the Audevard Ekyflex Nodolox Flash which is perfect for on-the-go and can be administered before a competition. 

If your horse isn’t building muscle as much as you’d like, or they're not in optimum condition when training starts up again, some Equine performance supplements like the Equitop Myoplast Muscle Growth Support Supplement could be just the thing to support their muscle development. 

With time, patience, and proper planning, you can get your horse back into work and tip-top condition in no time. If you’re getting ready for a new fitness plan, or you want to offer your horse a little more support with their new feed, check out our great range of high-quality horse supplements available online. 

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle thoroughly with your vet before starting any program or treatment.