Exercises to build muscle on a pony after a rest

Hi, and congratulations on your new horse! When a horse has rested for a long stretch, build the muscle back up gradually so the body has time to get used to the load again. A good rule of thumb is to vary the work.

One simple, effective option is to get out into the countryside. Long walks or hacks over hilly ground help the horse activate and strengthen the whole body. Hill work is especially good, since it engages the hindquarters, the hind legs and the back muscles. A slow walk downhill is particularly valuable: it works the braking muscles and gives the horse better balance. Keep the tempo genuinely slow here. Let the horse take responsibility for going slowly rather than walking and braking it yourself, and only support it if needed. Leading the horse in hand down the hills gives you even more control over the tempo, and lets you work on your communication at the same time.

Walking the horse through woodland on tracks with roots and logs also does a great deal for strength and coordination. That kind of work brings in the small stabilising muscles that are otherwise hard to reach.

A few more exercises that can help:

• Cavaletti and pole work in walk and trot, where the horse lifts its legs and engages both the abdominals and the topline
• Transitions between gaits, which build strength, carrying power and balance

Take care not to increase the difficulty too quickly. Short, regular sessions several times a week beat doing too much at once. That is how you build a sound, durable horse.

Good luck 💞