30-Day
Back-to-Work Schedule
Horses
are extremely athletic animals. However, like people, horses must
improve their level of fitness to accommodate a heavier work load.
Bones, ligaments, and muscles all remodel and strengthen during
increased exercise. If the level of exercise exceeds the level
of fitness, injury will occur. Therefore, it is very important
that we allow time for our horses to respond and adapt sufficiently
to increased exercise, particularly following a prolonged period
of rest.
We have prepared a schedule that is designed to increase your
horse’s level of fitness over a 4-week period. This
way, your horse will increase fitness gradually,
allowing ample time for appropriate tissue remodeling.
Please
note that unsupervised turnout is considered MAXIMUM exercise
and should be avoided until the back-to-work protocol has been
completed.
Please
note certain "rules" when following this schedule:
- Any activity performed on a previous day is permitted for
the scheduled day.
- Do not skip days!
- Carefully assess your horse’s soundness each day prior
to exercising.
- If any unsoundness is detected, place your horse in a stall
and call your veterinarian.
DAY
0: |
Last
day of rest |
|
|
DAY
1-2: |
Tack
walk (under saddle) on a flat surface (straight line, uncollected)
for 15 minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
3: |
Tack
walk on a flat surface (straight line, collected) for 15 minutes
once daily |
|
|
DAY
4: |
Tack
walk (any surface, collected) for 15 minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
5-6: |
Long-line
trot (no rider) for 10 minutes in each direction once daily |
|
|
DAY
7: |
Light
trotting (under saddle) on a flat surface (uncollected, straight
line) for 15 minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
8-9: |
Light
trotting on a flat surface (collected, straight line) for
20 minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
10-11: |
Light
trotting on a flat surface (collected, any direction) for
20 minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
12-15: |
Trot
on a flat surface (collected, any direction) for 30 minutes
once or twice daily |
|
|
DAY
16-17: |
Canter
lightly on a flat surface (uncollected, straight line) for
15 minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
18-19: |
Canter
lightly on a flat surface (collected, straight line) for 15
minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
20: |
Trot
on any surface (collected, any direction) for 30 minutes once
daily |
|
|
DAY
21-22: |
Canter
lightly on a flat surface (collected, any direction) for 15
minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
23-24: |
Canter
on a flat surface (collected, any direction) for 30 minutes
once daily |
|
|
DAY
25-26: |
Canter
on any surface (collected, any direction) for 20 minutes once
daily |
|
|
DAY
27-28: |
Light
jumping (≤ 2' 6") for 15 minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
29-30: |
Light
jumping (≤ 2' 6") for 30 minutes once daily |
|
|
DAY
31: |
Resume
normal work regimen. |
If
you would like any more information pertaining to your horse and/or
a specific injury, please ask one of our staff. We will be glad
to help you in any way that we can. |