>>>> If you had had a long break from exercise (and you were a pensioner to boot!), you would not start with a 5 mile run. You should not ask your poor old horse to do the same - please, I know this probably sounds harsh, but have some common sense! Start him gently, just 10 minutes at walk only for a week or two, gradually building him up to an hour or so. Then start adding some trot (or tolt or whatever he finds easiest). Finally, once you've built up some basic fitness, think about cantering. Give the guy a break, he deserves better.
I think that's good advice for a senior horse, Mic, and I'd even recommend only a slightly more strenuous start-back for a middle-aged horse, or any horse returning to work after a lay-off. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.20/1108 - Release Date: 11/3/2007 9:42 PM IceHorses Community for Photos and Videos: http://kickapps.com/icehorses "The greatest enemy of the truth very often is not the lie- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer [] Lee Ziegler http://leeziegler.com [] Liz Graves http://lizgraves.com [] Lee's Book Easy Gaited Horses http://tinyurl.com/7vyjo [] IceHorses Map http://www.frappr.com/IceHorses Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
