I Hope you're Riding? Now is the time to leg up your horse.

I must admit when the weather is nice the last thing I want to do is be in front of a computer writing a blog, hence the reason I haven't had a post in over 2 weeks.  The weather in Southern Ontario has been superb for riding so that's what I have been doing.
I am taking full advantage of the dry warm weather  to bring some horses back into shape.  I often get asked what I do to leg up a horse after a winter of relative little activity.  It is pretty simple and similar to the way people start getting back in shape after a winter off.  Start small and build. 
Here is what I would do to bring a trail horse back into condition.

Week 1
Monday walk 20 min trot 5 min walk 15 min
Tuesday walk 20 min trot 5 min walk 15 min

Wednesday walk 20 min trot 5 min walk 15 min

Thursday walk 20 min trot 5 min walk 15 min

Friday walk 20 min trot 5 min walk 15 min

Saturday walk 20 min trot 5 min walk 15 min

Sunday rest
Week 2
Monday walk 20 min trot 5 min walk 15 min
Tuesday walk 20 min trot 5 min walk 15 min
Wednesday walk 15 min trot 10 min walk 15 min
Thursday walk 15 min trot 10 min walk 15 min
Friday walk 15 min trot 10 min walk 15 min
Saturday walk 15 min trot 10 min walk 15 min
Sunday rest

Week 3
Monday walk 10 min trot 15 min canter 5 min walk 15 min
Tuesday walkwalk 10 min trot 15 min canter 5 min walk 15 min
Wednesday walk 10 min trot 15 min canter 5 min walk 15 min
Thursday walk 10 min trot 15 min canter 5min walk 15 min
Friday walk 10 min trot 15 min canter 5 min walk 15 min
Saturday walk 10 min trot 15 min canter 5 min walk 15 min
Sunday go for a long walk to stretch out from the week
Week 4

Monday walk 10 min trot 20 min canter 5 walk 15 min
Tuesday walkwalk 10 min trot 20 min walk 15 min
Wednesday walk 10 min trot 20 min walk 15 min
Thursday walk 10 min trot 20 min canter 5min walk 15 min
Friday walk 10 min trot 20 min canter 5 min walk 15 min
Saturday walk 10 min trot 20 min canter 5 min walk 15 min
Sunday go for a long walk with a little canter and some trotting thrown in. ( no more then 5 minutes of trotting and cantering)
This is a rough guide; play it by ear and see how your horse is doing.  I don't think there is anything wrong with a sweaty horse but be sure to cool him out properly and rest him if you think he needs it. 
Try to stick to good footing and use your good horse sense.
Good luck
Steve Wawryk