WAIT! Prepare Your Horse After Any Layoff
Thank you for caring about your safety and your horse’s safety.
What is a layoff? Let’s simplify: Whenever our horse is not in regular use, it is a layoff.
In the Spring, it’s easy to forget that our horse has been standing for the winter. But for many horses 3 or 4 days can be a layoff. This can depend on age, spirit, training level – particularly if we are talking about riding.
It’s easy to think we can just pick up where we left off, but this can be a mistake.
It’s not very different from when we haven’t seen a friend for awhile – we have to get back in synch with each other first. Or when we haven’t worn our comfortable shoes for awhile, they’re not comfortable for a few days.
A lot of accidents can happen in the Spring or after some other type a layoff. We don’t want to have that happen to us or our horse.
If we can remember to bring our horse back as slowly as necessary and to take extra time to get them used to everything again, we may save ourself a lot of trouble.
Nothing good comes from us or our horse getting hurt.
Another thing that is easy to injure is not so obvious. Our confidence or our horse’s confidence can get damaged, and this can be a big setback.
It’s just not worth the risk, so it’s better to take some extra time to avoid after-layoff mishaps.
The best place to do this is in-hand on the ground. They need to get used to things again and the saddle, too. Then proceed to riding only when it feels right and safe for you and your horse.
If you or someone you know is in the position of not being sure how to bring their horse back after a layoff, feel free to use the contact form below to ask about strategies you can use for you and your horse.
Let’s enjoy our horse the way we always wanted to!
To find out more, “About Horse Training And Why Our Horse Needs It.”
Horses Forever!
Pat Moses
30+ years of supporting horse lovers
Horse-Solutions.com