Warhorse Journals - Solon's Training

[cheval]

I'm going to start a journal to keep track of Solon's back in training progress. Right now our number one goal is to get a bunch of weight off of him. Due to my hip/knee issues I haven't ridden in over 8 months and he's gotten huge.

Our second goal is to learn dressage. I won't be doing any showing, no trailer to take us anywhere, but it'll be for us.

Today we did 15 minutes of free lunging. I'm going to do a few days of 15 minute sessions just to get us back into the swing of things then bump it up to half hour sessions. In the 15 minutes he got pretty sweaty (it was a little hot out but not too much) so I know he's really out of shape.

He does everything he should, walk-trot transitions, trot- walk, trot-canter, canter- trot and stop and come into the circle to the left but he throws a huge fit going to the right. Tomorrow I'll start our session with bending exercises to make sure he's not too stiff on the right side.

The one thing that is great about him and free lunging, he does really nice even circles - even when he is fussing and tossing his head going to the right. We ended when he stopped from his trot-walk transition when asked.

I'm eventually looking to get surgery on my knee from my work-related injury back in April so that might slow down my riding part but I will be making up some obstacle courses and other things to keep the ground training interesting for him.

I'll keep this updated daily and if anyone has suggestions/thoughts feel free to chime in. I'll take pictures of his progress in his weight loss as we move along.

[pandorasmom]

Can't wait to keep up with this. Now can you share a few of his pounds with Pandora?? She's getting fatter, but not where I want her yet. lol :p

[cheval]

I would like too! I noticed the fat deposits along his neck yesterday and said, alright, that's it. I want a happy healthy horse for several more years. We got the healthy part down pat, we need to get to the healthy part!

[cowboyup3371]

Good luck Cheval and keep us posted.

[cheval]

What's the best way to get into a fitness routine? As far as weight loss for a horse. I don't want to push him too hard, but I don't want to do too little.

Just not quite sure what to do.

[cowboyup3371]

Honestly I would just do what you are doing. Take it a little at a time and add a little more every week.

[cheval]

Thanks, we'll just get going and try and add more stuff as he gets used to the workouts.

[valleyrider]

Keeping a journal is a great idea.. You are on the right track to how you started the training program. Also take pictures of his progress.. Maybe every other week. Then you can really see his progress and post before durring and after pictures here for us to see:D

[JackieB]

Looking forward to Lord Solon's progress!

[jeezitsjacki]

I like the journal idea. Our barn just got back one of our horses we had for many years before, and boy is he fat too. he has fat layers on fat. Its actually really making his canter awful because he is so off balance. First I started with some lunging on line as well as free lunging for about 15 minutes, mostly trotting and about 2-3 canters each direction. Then I kept bumping the lunging time up.. max is about 20-25 minutes. Now I have been riding him for about 30-35 minutes, first just basic riding, no collecting or bending in the bridle, with a couple short walk breaks. Recently I have starting making him bend into the bridle a lot at the trot (he knew how before so he didnt have to learn) and some at the canter. I will just keep adding time to the riding, as well as days a week.

hope that helps!

[TheBadLands]

Oh this will be fun to follow!!

Lots of pics!

[IrisGreen]

This sounds like a great idea! You've been wanting to get him back in shape and this will help keep you motivated and clear on what's next and just how far Solon has come. I think it will help you greatly with the support of the forum family and us cheering you and Solon on. He will be a fit, muscled, war horse machine before you know it!:)

Once he gets some stamina he will lose those extra pounds fast with daily work. Muffin packs on the pounds really fast. Switching him to this new barn he got fat, even being worked nearly every day. They just feed him more. At home I have to keep him on a weighed diet so he doesn't get fat or thin, He doesn't have a pasture so I can control his feed much easier and keep him from getting too fat. It's much harder with horses on pasture, though I would love to be able to have him on pasture I don't have the land.

I think Solon will get in to shape pretty fast once he gets his stamina up. With the draft breeds, they get fat easy but they get in shape pretty fast too, there built for power, he will be one fit powerful sexy black war horse in no time again ;)

I like your plan to start off slow and work him up to where he should be. You know Solon best so you would know when to stop him before he starts to get resentful of the extra hard work so he's happy and not soar the next time you take him out to work him.

I don't have to say good luck, because I know you can get him to where you want him when you put your mind too it. Keep us updated! Muffin might have to get on the Solon work out program when he comes home, he's chubby. lol

[cheval]

Thanks for the input everyone! I will take some before pictures this weekend before I work on his photo contest stuff.

We'll see how it goes this evening. He's not going to be happy coming out of retirement, but he'll feel better down the road. :cool:

[IrisGreen]

Yeah, wait tell he gets in better shape and he starts feeling his oats! lol Your going to be like "Is that MY horse running around like a kid in a candy store having fun!". lol I was shocked when Muffin started getting into shape how much more energy he had and how enthusiastic he was when you worked with him. It really brings them back to life when there in shape, almost like they know they look good! hahaha I can't wait to hear about how Solon is doing, he's going to be just stunning and hold himself different when he's in shape and gets put back to work. I can't wait!:) He's already a big bautiful horse but getting them in to shape changes the way they feel about themselfs and the way they carry themselfs just like it does with us. Ohhhh I can't wait to see the new sexy Solon:)

[cheval]

Right now, his idea of exercise is this. The horses when turned out in the arena will do laps. He will trot back in forth (picking up food as he goes by a pile) and meet them on each side of the circle. So he never does the laps, just trots back and forth picking through the piles, meet them on the side, then repeats until the rest of them settle down.

I don't know why he even bothers!!!

He had the last two days off due to my work schedule so today we will be back at it. I'll update later.

[cheval]

Tonight was getting warm. So we just walked four laps. The arena is 180 x 60. So not a lot of walking but got him moving. Did the same thing last night. Four laps.

He kept pulling on my shirt wanting to stop. So I let him stop then made him back. No more asking to stop. He'll get tomorrow off - it's going be in the high 90s. I'll be out of town for a couple of days then Monday he'll get worked, Tuesday then I'm on vacation for 10 days.

When I get from that vacation, we are going to really get going.

[KCandAllegro'sMom]

Oooh I can't wait to read your entries! I'm sure I'll get lots of tips for Allegro (who's a total fatty right now)

[cheval]

We are working slowly into a regular program. I can tell he's out of shape just by his breathing. We've had two horses put down at our barn over the last week and I just want to make sure he's in good healthy shape because I want to have a lot more years with him. He's my best friend and my soul mate.

I'll get some pictures as soon as I can get the BO to help me take them so I can track his weight loss progress.

[jeezitsjacki]

sounds like he is still making progress, nice job. looking further to more updates when you get back from your trip

[cheval]

It ended up not being too bad heat-wise so we did our four laps. He rolled then we went outside and I sprayed the inside of his legs and let him graze. I accidentally had the hose pointed toward him when I turned it on and it sprayed him quickly and he growled and stomped his foot at me. It was so funny. I told him sorry and all was forgiven.

Then he spent his time on the look out for the killer barn bun-buns.

I'm heading out of town overnight so he will have tomorrow night off. Then four work out days then 10 off while I'm on vacation.

He wasn't quite so winded doing laps tonight and actually had a really nice pace doing them. So I think he's getting into the swing of things.

[cheval]

After I sprayed him down and he rolled in the biggest dust pile he could find we walked laps outside today. The weather wasn't too bad and he was very cooperative even though I wasn't leading him.

Heading out - his cue is to 'Walk up' and he heads straight out.

http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/42507/2448135910102561126S425x425Q85.jpg


Moving right along:

http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/43048/2378488440102561126S425x425Q85.jpg


I like this picture:

http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/42543/2357275530102561126S425x425Q85.jpg


After a few pasture laps I gave him the 'Away' command he went and had a snack:

http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/576/2774098040102561126S425x425Q85.jpg


He was smart and stayed in the shade:

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/45526/2425991870102561126S425x425Q85.jpg


It's supposed to cool down quite a bit tomorrow so we will do some more serious stuff on the ground.

[jeezitsjacki]

he is so pretty.. how sneaky of him to go towards the food haha

[cheval]

He's very wise in the way of the samurai eater.

[cheval]

Worked on yielding tonight. I'm so impressed with him. He can not be asked to do anything for months and he'll pick right up like he's been doing it everyday. He'll have a break for awhile then we will start riding. Not supposed to but I can't hurt my knee any worse than it is so I might as well be doing something with him other than ground work.