How long do you spend on a schooling session?

I'm helping someone out to ride their LW hunter from tomorrow. He has been turned out without work all summer, I presume because he was hunting twice weekly during the hunting season.


What I need to know is how to get him back up to speed, which will obviously be done gradually, but what sort of schooling exercises would be beneficial, and how long would you spend each session?


Thanks|||Personally, I would spend about 30 minutes and gradually work my way up. Work on simple leg yeilds, circles, figure eights. Get him back on the bit, thinking about his feet, moving off his shoulder and really engaging his hind end. Take it easy though, nothing too technical especially if he's been turned out all summer. I would do basic flat and work your way into the technicals slowly. As far as time goes, it really depends on him but as I said Id focus on a half hour ish, lounging is a good way to get him back into conditioning etc. Really monitor his progress slowly and dont rush too much too soon.





Enjoy! :)|||When bringing a horse back into work you have to do it slowly.


It is really difficult to be patient and work on the horse and bring it back slowly however, it is really the best way for their legs, tendons and muscles.





The horse that I have just bought has been out of work for a year. I have started by just walking only for three weeks (hacking and in the school, working up from just half an hour to an hour every day).


Then introduce trot and gradually build this up to trotting most of the exercise session. Build up to longer and longer sessions until the horse can trot at a very active pace for a sustained amount of time.


Then introduce canter and build that up too.





The fitter you would like the horse to be at the end of the fittening program the longer and slower the program should be.





Sooo really, there is no definite answer, you should build up your horses schooling sessions. In the end, it also depends on how long your horse needs to warm up and begin listening to you and working from behind.





Hope this helps you! : )|||You must start out with goals - if you are an experienced rider, you know what cues the horse should respond to, how he should respond and how quickly.





simply start with the basics and determine how adept he is at each needed level - are you riding the horse to simply keep him in physical shape or to keep his wits about him and remind him of his hunter training?





If exercise is the goal, the sessions will probably be similar in length and content - lots of trotting and flatwork to keep him limber and in peak condition. Maybe an hour's worth of riding. If trail riding in a relaxed manner to keep him in shape and happy - an hour maybe a day.





If the goal is maximizing his training, you need to first determine his current level, what he needs to improve upon and go from there. Build your goals for each day's sessions with achieveable marks. Then work towards them. If the horse completes a requested maneuver or action well, then move on to the next thing, don't dwell on what he's doing well. Reward him with relaxation, then move on to the next thing to keep him feeling like he's getting something out of it.





when I ride, I might work with the horse this time an hour and next time two hours depending on how focused he is on me and what we're doing. He'll also tell me when he's had enough or he's lost focus. Today he might start losing focus at an hour, tomorrow we might be able to work together 4 hours happily.





You must know how to read the horse to tell when he's doing well and is happy.|||Are you starting a fittening programme (forgive me if I've misunderstood)? If so, this is the programme you need to follow:





First 2 weeks - walk, walk, walk! Start off with 5 minutes in hand for a day or two, then 5 mins under saddle. Build up gradually but by the end of the 2 weeks you should be walking under saddle for about 30 mins





3rd week - introduce trot in 2 minute period. At the end of week 3 you should be walking 30mins and trotting about 8 (in intervals, not all at once)





week 4 - increase trot so that by the end you can walk 30 mins and trot 15





week 5 - increase trot further until the horse can trot for 20mins (walk for 30)





week 6 - introduce canter in 1 min intervals, by the end of week 6 you should be walking 30mins, trotting 15mins and cantering 5mins





week 7 - aim to be cantering for 10mins, walking 20 and trotting 15





week 8 - canter 15, trot 20, by this time you can drop walk to around 10 mins





week 9 - canter 15, trot 25, walk 5





week 10 - if wanted introduce pole work





week 11 - up from pole work to small jumps





week 12 - increase jump height to around 2' 6", by this time you should be schooling in a mix of trot and canter for 45 mins and the horse not be getting tired





ADD: Exercises such as circles, figures of 8s, serpentines etc. will be beneficial to the horse. Start off big (30m circles etc) and gradually work down to 10m or so.|||I'm assuming youre an experienced rider since someone is having you work their horse for them...and the horse obviously is well trained if he was hunting 2 times a wk during season...so...heres what i would do!





First- (not sure how many times a wk you plan on riding)


Stick to basics...do some ground work, get to know the horse.


Keep it at a walk and trot...basics!





Next- When you're ready, walk/trot over ground poles...work on the canter...see how it plays out! The time and amount of work depends on how he's doing! If you're supposed to be jumping, gradually work up to the sizes...starting with ground poles and crossties...





To get him back in shape, ride a min. of 3-5 times a week, working for an 1hr - 1 1/2 hr.





That what you wanted to know?





Good Luck!|||If he has been out in the pasture, and not locked up in a stall, the rules are different. He should be fine starting at 30 minutes and increasing from there. Work him the first week for that amount of time, and increase the work, or the time spent, the next week. I would keep it at 30 minutes and increase the work load gradually if it was me...but you can do it either way.|||Generally a good 30 minute exercise is good enough. I only work my guy for about 30 minutes a lesson. It's short enough to not have them get annoyed that your on their back but it also leaves enough time for you to make progress.|||$15 per hour! (EXTREMELY cheap, so don't expect to find that price)|||1/2 and hour to 1 hr. see how tired he looks|||Good that he's been turned out all summer. Assuming your goal is to get him fit to hunt, determining the schooling schedule to get him fit will depend on how much condition he lost (some horses go very soft, others maintain themselves fairly well) , and if he's now overweight. Some basic guidelines, if he's not too overweight, is start off 30 minute walks on flat ground under tack if you're not too heavy - remember he has to rebuild the muscles to carry weight. Longeing is an option if you use a very long line and keep the sessions short. If the rider (you) isn't heavy, I think riding is better for a horse who's only just had the summer off. I'm not a big fan of longeing to get a horse fit. Gradually increase to 45 minutes walking (at a good brisk walk), or keep it at 30 and add hill work at walk. Stay at the walk phase for 2 - 3 weeks depending on the horse, increasing the time if hills are not available. Start to add 5 minute trots in the 30 or 45 minute sessions, gradually adding more trotting and beginning and ending with walk. Gradually increase the trot up to 15 minutes, and then up to 20. (2-4 weeks). Back off the trotting and add a short canter on flat ground. I think you get the idea. The main point to remember is never increase time and intensity at the same time, and monitor how your horse is handling the increase in work, and keep the weather - - temp and humidity levels - - in mind (if that's applicable to where you live).





As for exercises, just all of the lateral and longitudinal strengthening work that you would normally incorporate in training. Just remember not to work him on the bit until his back muscles have had time to rebuild, and increase that time gradually, as well. |||well my teacher is indapent as well she charges 30 in austrlian dollers for a allrounder lesson not just practising on the same this is last for about an hour sometimes loger coz we are having more fun =p but its about an hour and then u have the the 30 mins before and after to grom tack up etc =]