Preparing Your Horse For A Fun Ride

Isn’t it great that lots of horsey events are now back up and running 🤗

One event that is popular with many horse owners is fun or pleasure rides 🐎

An opportunity to explore countryside you would never usually get the chance to ride on and jump some fences without the pressure of competition 👍🏻

Fun rides appeal to all sorts of riders including hunters, endurance riders in training, dressage riders looking to get their horse out of the arena, happy hackers and parents with young children and ponies on lead rein 🐴

Going to a fun ride might seem like a great idea, but to ensure the experience is actually fun for you and your horse it helps to make sure your horse is prepared for the day ahead.

1. Consider the Journey

▪️Does your horse load well?

▪️Have they travelled with their chosen travel mate before?

▪️Is your horse fit enough to travel for the intended journey time?

▪️Do you have the necessary travel protection for your horse (boots / bandages etc.) ?

▪️Is your horse used to wearing their travel gear?

▪️Have you taught your horse to stand tied to the lorry / trailer?

▪️Do you have enough forage with you to last the journey there and back? (Also consider feeding a scoop of chaff before the journey, before the ride and before the journey home to help reduce the risk of acid splash in your horse’s gut?)

2. Consider the Ride

▪️Will your horse stand to be mounted – do you have a step with you?

▪️Is your horse fit enough to complete the intended distance?

▪️Are they likely to get excitable in a busy environment – do you have strategies in place to keep them focused?

▪️Make sure to give your horse an appropriate amount of warm up time before upping the pace or jumping

▪️What is the terrain like on your chosen ride – is your horse prepared for slopes, uneven surfaces or maybe even water?

3. Consider the cool down and after affects

▪️Be sure that your horse’s heart and respiratory rate have returned to normal by the time you finish the ride

▪️Make sure to have water with you to wash and cool your horse when you get back to the vehicle

▪️Consider offering water with electrolytes in immediately on return to your vehicle, your horse’s natural thirst instinct is highest at this point and they will be more likely to take the drink which will help to replenish their body with lost electrolytes

▪️Be sure to cover your horse with a wicking rug to prevent them from getting a chill if they are very wet and it is not a hot day

▪️Give your horse some rest time to recover if you can before the journey home – don’t forget that travelling is a stress on the body too and can be very tiring

▪️Consider a rest day for your horse following the ride, particularly if they are not used to travelling and riding such a long distance on challenging terrain

🔺I hope some of these points are useful for you.

There are lots of things to consider when taking your horse to do something a little different to what they are used to.

But by doing so you can ensure that the experience is fun for you and your horse!

So how does this relate to me as an Equine Massage Therapist?

🔺Equine Massage Therapy has a very strong, healing physical & psychological influence on horses of any age, size, breed or discipline and can used to prevent injuries, relieve stress & assist in recovery from an event.

🔺Massage Therapy safely affects the whole body of the horse by regulating the circulatory, lymphatic, endocrine, digestive, reproductive, respiratory & nervous systems & their interdependent functioning.

🔺Equine Massage Therapy helps to dispel toxins from the body & increase oxygenation, leading to enhanced performance & shorter recuperation time and will help to relax your horse when they are tense whilst also giving them strength and flexibility when they are tired.

🔺To find out more or to book an appointment please do get in touch 📲