How often should a young Arabian horse be ridden?
I’m purchasing a 4 year old Arabian gelding for endurance riding, but was wondering how hard I should work him. I know that Arabians aren’t fully grown until they are 6, and I want this horse to finish developing properly and to grow as tall as possible. Would it be safe for me to ride him for an hour a day, almost every day? Or should I stick to riding him lightly till he is 6 years old?
With most young horses that I work with, I do work with them every day however I vary the amount and difficulty on a weekly schedule. I try and give at least one or two days off a week, one or two days of "hard" training, and one day to work on "de-spooking", introducing them to things, hand walking around the property.
Here is an example of the schedule I use for my off-track standardbred gelding that was JUST started under saddle.
Sunday – Day of work – 1.5 hours in saddle. 15 minutes warm-up, 1 hour training, 15 minutes cool down. Working on dressage training.
Monday – Light day – 30 minutes free lunging/round pen work, if going well 30 minutes of light work in saddle (walk, trot, free walk, or a short hack)
Tuesday – DAY OFF
Wednesday – Light day – 30 minutes free lunging/round pen work, if going well 30 minutes of light work in saddle (walk, trot, free walk, or a short hack)
Thursday – Hard Training Day – 1.5 hours in saddle. 15 minutes warm up, 20 minutes walk, 20 minutes trot, 20 minutes canter, 15 minutes cool down.
Friday – Light Day – working on exposure to things – hand walk over cavalettis, round pen work, natural horsemanship, bending, hand walking down the road, etc
Saturday – DAY OFF.
This is the basic schedule I use for most of the horses I work with, with some minor changes (older horses get shown Sundays and Friday becomes a training day) including the arab cross I used to have.
I always start them out carefully and slowly… doing ground work daily to build muscle and endurance before I even think of backing them… that way they’re ready for the heavier work when it comes time to do so.
Hope that gives you a few ideas. Good luck with your young arab!!
With most young horses that I work with, I do work with them every day however I vary the amount and difficulty on a weekly schedule. I try and give at least one or two days off a week, one or two days of "hard" training, and one day to work on "de-spooking", introducing them to things, hand walking around the property.
Here is an example of the schedule I use for my off-track standardbred gelding that was JUST started under saddle.
Sunday – Day of work – 1.5 hours in saddle. 15 minutes warm-up, 1 hour training, 15 minutes cool down. Working on dressage training.
Monday – Light day – 30 minutes free lunging/round pen work, if going well 30 minutes of light work in saddle (walk, trot, free walk, or a short hack)
Tuesday – DAY OFF
Wednesday – Light day – 30 minutes free lunging/round pen work, if going well 30 minutes of light work in saddle (walk, trot, free walk, or a short hack)
Thursday – Hard Training Day – 1.5 hours in saddle. 15 minutes warm up, 20 minutes walk, 20 minutes trot, 20 minutes canter, 15 minutes cool down.
Friday – Light Day – working on exposure to things – hand walk over cavalettis, round pen work, natural horsemanship, bending, hand walking down the road, etc
Saturday – DAY OFF.
This is the basic schedule I use for most of the horses I work with, with some minor changes (older horses get shown Sundays and Friday becomes a training day) including the arab cross I used to have.
I always start them out carefully and slowly… doing ground work daily to build muscle and endurance before I even think of backing them… that way they’re ready for the heavier work when it comes time to do so.
Hope that gives you a few ideas. Good luck with your young arab!!
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