How often should I run my Horse?

Well, it depends on the horse, what it is used for, the lifestyle it has, and how much excess energy it seems to have (often easily measured by how restless the horse actually is and how much time it spends pacing around and seeming discontent). Exercise is an important part of keeping your horse healthy, active, strong, and free from physical ailments such as being overweight (which can cause joint problems). Regular exercise builds endurance, and that builds strength, making your horse healthier and stronger, it is also great for their hearts and lungs to get a good work out (but don’t overdo it – as sometimes a horse can bleed internally if they exert too much energy at once). If you have a younger horse it is important they get plenty of exercise and play time for bone development, in fact it is key to their healthy bone development. In a young adult horse it should receive enough exercise to tire it, but not exhaust it.

To find out how many times you can run your horse a week start off slow in the ring, first with walking, then trotting, bump the trotting up after several minutes to catering. Remember to ease into it and watch for any sings of tiring or quickly becoming overwhelmed – when you think it has reached the point it should slow the horse down to a trot, and then to a walk for about fifteen more minutes. Gradually increase the amount of work each day by only a few minutes. Once your horse is fit and in shape consider letting it run for short amounts of time by going from the canter (if you are in a large enough area) to a slow to medium gallop – but don’t let him/her canter or gallop too long as a horse will tire VERY quickly at these gaits.

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How often should I run my Horse?

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