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| Author |
Message |
    
Karen Inscore (Vallie)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2001 - 1:55 pm: |   |
Hello everyone! I am going to be starting my mare on a basic conditioning regiment which will include a mix of walking, trotting and eventually loping every other day starting at about 20 min each session and working up to about 45 min over the next couple of months. Unfortunately, the only place I have to work her is in a fenced area about 50ft x 65 or 70ft that is grass.
My question is: what kinds problems can/will doing this type of riding on grass cause and what should I keep a look out for.
Thanks! - Karen |
Linda Antipala (Alika)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2001 - 3:23 pm: | |
Karen, we have grass patches in our arena when we get lazy on maintenance. Our only problem with grass is that the horses are tempted to pull down for a mouthful during a work session. |
Jordana Meisner (Presario)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2001 - 9:35 pm: | |
The only problems I can think of are in the summer months when the ground is rock hard, it can get slippery if the grass is really short. Of course, it can be just as slippery when it's wet. But beyond those two extremes, if the grass if nice and thick, it will give a nice cushion to her feet. If ridden in too much (it's not a very big arena), you will start killing the grass and make it very difficult for it to come back. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Thursday, Mar 29, 2001 - 7:37 am: | |
Hello All,
Boredom for the horse might be a problem and think it will create a lot of strain on the joints because of the small size especially at 45 minutes of trot and lope.
DrO |
Karen Inscore (Vallie)
| | Posted on Thursday, Mar 29, 2001 - 10:15 am: | |
Thanks! There is a small enclosure that butts up to the one in question. I could easily take the fence down between the two which would make the total riding area about 90ft x 70ft (I actually measured last night). Would this be more appropriate and be less of a strain on her joints and pasture.
Any suggestions of other ways to condition my horse would be appreciated too. She's really out of shape.
Thanks again! - Karen |
Karen Inscore (Vallie)
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 30, 2001 - 9:19 am: | |
Dr O -- would wetting the arena (and making it bigger), say about 15 min to 1/2 before riding help with the strain on the joints? She does have shoes on, but I would worry about slipping on wet grass.
Unfortunately, we don't have the money right now to put the proper footing in. So again, any suggestions or alternatives are greatly appreciated.
As always, thanks -- Karen |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 30, 2001 - 1:15 pm: | |
Hello Karen,
The posters above who say the grass won't last are right: you will be surprised how quickly this will turn into a dirt track. Depending on the soils composition you are likely to create a mud track. Adding some bounce to the surface, I use old stall shavings and yes even manure makes a great riding surface.
I think your best bet is to keep the work in the small pen to a minimum and for training those things that are best learned in a pen and do your conditioning in a big pasture or on the trail where you have long straights.
DrO |
Karen Inscore (Vallie)
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 30, 2001 - 4:38 pm: | |
Dr. O -- would the shavings & manure give enough bounce to do some light trotting? Would straw help any (we don't use shavings)?
As I don't get out on the trail much (maybe 1 or 2 weekends a month) and our pasture is much too rocky for any trotting or loping, would she be getting the conditioning she needs to sustain a 4 or 5 hour trail ride? When I do trail ride we usually make a day of it.
Thanks again. I really appreciate it.
Karen |
Karen Inscore (Vallie)
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 30, 2001 - 4:40 pm: | |
Sorry, I just thought of something else I wanted to ask.
What is the recommended size for an arena to do the type of conditioning work I want to do and what is the best type of footing?
Karen |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 31, 2001 - 7:28 am: | |
I am not trying to be evasive, Karen, it is just that so much depends on the particulars. Particularly how you conduct your trail rides. There are few horses out of the pasture who could not walk you 5 hours but on the other hand if you run for 5 hours you are going to have a hard time getting adequate condition in a ring on just about any size like you describe. 100 by 200 would be a good minimum size for trotting and cantering a horse for extended periods of time and yet not always be turning a corner.
I have never used straw and might find it hard to manage. It helps to run a drag harrow over it every once in a while to smooth and fluff it up and the straw would get stuck in the harrow.
DrO |
Karen Inscore (Vallie)
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 31, 2001 - 3:39 pm: | |
Thanks for your help Dr. O. It's very much appreciated and I will take another look at what I want to accomplish and see about other alternatives. Karen |
