Exercise

Turnout

The primary source of exercise for many horses is their time in turn-out, which is vital to the health of young and retired horses to ensure they move around enough to keep their joints and digestive system healthy. Although extended periods free to move around, socialize and graze is ideal for horses, with the restraints of space and safety concerns for performance horses, this free time is often somewhat restricted. However, there are ways to reduce the chance of injury; horses can be turned out individually and in smaller paddocks.

Riding

Riding is an excellent activity for both horse and rider to get in some exercise. This time with your horse is an opportunity to assess their physical and mental state. How does the horse react to grooming and saddling? How does the movement feel in each gait? Noticing changes in these areas can help you adjust your horse care before a problem arises. Being in tune with your horse will build trust and help form a rewarding bond.

Training

Building a rewarding relationship with your horse requires consistency and training. Whether your goal is a quiet horse standing on cross ties for grooming or a confident horse to enter the show ring, you will need to provide structure. Whatever discipline you pursue, finding a trainer to support your progress is always helpful. Training your horse should build both strength and trust.

Lunging

Lunging is a good form of exercise and an excellent training tool, offering a controlled way to work the horse at all gates. Lunging can be a warm-up before riding or the entire exercise session. Because lunging is consistent circling sessions should be kept short and may not be a good choice for some horses. A conversation with your vet about any soundness issues your horse has before adding lunging to your program is advisable.

Hand Walking

When turn-out is not an option, or a horse is rehabbing from an injury, hand walking, although time-consuming, is a practical, controllable way to get horses moving. Movement is good for the horse's overall health, specifically the joints. A fifteen-minute walk will stimulate the cartilage in the joint to release synovial fluid and allow the body to remove waste products from the joint. During this time, blood flow to all the soft tissue will increase, facilitating oxygen delivery and eliminating lactic acid and urea, supporting optimal muscle performance. Never underestimate the value of a hand walk for your horse!

Treadmills

Treadmills are an excellent tool for rehabilitation, conditioning, and training a horse, with multiple configurations available on the market. Available with features including incline/decline adjustment, aqua tubs, and overhead heat lamps. It is essential to be aware of the safety risks and be sure to tend to the horse during the entirety of the exercise. During training, we must consistently re-assess treadmill usage to account for horse fitness or rehab progress. Additionally, we must be cautious not to overwork them on the treadmill. The treadmill's surface does not provide the variation in footing a horse will typically experience, resulting in the weakness of smaller supportive structures in the horse's legs and hooves.

Ultimately, a well-monitored and tailored treadmill program can be a fantastic addition to your horse's exercise regimen.

Hot Walkers

Hot walkers allow multiple horses to be exercised safely at one time; this is especially helpful when space is limited. Some models can accommodate up to eight horses at once. Although it will take time to acclimate the horses to the hot walker, it will ultimately save time and provide them with more opportunities to move. Used pre and post-training to maximize productivity or as a supplement to or replacement for turn-out. Some models also offer speed controls and the ability to program time and direction, so the horses will get time trotting to help increase stamina and strength.

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