INDOOR ARENA          Ride Year Round!      WELCOME VISITORS!
View of the Indoor Arena through the safety glass in the Viewing Room.
View of the Indoor Arena through the safety glass in the Viewing Room.  The sound system
plays in the viewing/tack room as well as the indoor arena!!

EXERCISE IS CRUCIAL TO YOUR HORSE'S HEALTH!
If you own a horse, you probably already know that physical activity is an important part of your
equine buddy's life.

  •  Regular exercise builds endurance, stamina and resistance to disease.

  •  It improves the functioning of your horse's heart, working muscles, increases tendon and
    ligament strength, and mobility of the digestive tract, and increases clearance of secretions
    from the lung.

  •  At low levels, exercise improves the immune system.

  • Exercise is very important for a horse with arthritis.

Exercise keeps the body in good working order and helps keep a sound mind.
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MORE ON EXERCISE...

Exercise for Good Behavior

In addition to keeping your horse in good physical condition, exercise also helps prevent many
behavioral problems associated with confinement.

"Exercise gives your horse a better attitude and makes him easier to ride," says Carol Timmerman, a
horse trainer and owner of Timmerman's Ranch in Island Lake, Ill. "If you don't provide your horse
with enough exercise," Timmerman says, "he will have a lot of pent-up energy and may be especially
difficult to handle on the rare days when you do ride."

Vices such as bucking, kicking, barnsourness, weaving, wind sucking, cribbing and stall walking all
can be the result of lack of exercise. Exactly how much exercise your horse needs to keep from
getting restless and bored, depends on his personality, breed, age and lifestyle. "A horse that is
pastured most of the time probably won't need as much formal exercise as a stabled horse,"
Timmerman notes. "A young horse or a very excitable hot-blooded breed such as an Arabian will
need more exercise than a 20-year-old Quarter horse that's used to taking the grandkids for rides
around the ring." Here are some suggestions for developing a fitness program for your particular
horse:

Ease Into It

Look at your horse's physical condition. If he isn't used to a lot of physical activity, you'll need to start
with light exercise and gradually get him accustomed to the activity. Just have him walk during the
first couple weeks and, once he's handling that well, you can up the pace to trotting and cantering.
Gradually increase the length and amount of work you require from your horse. It should take eight
to ten weeks of regular exercise (1-2 hrs/day) to get your horse reasonably fit.

Get Into the Habit of Warming Up Your Horse

Warming up is essential for getting the best performance, and for reducing the chance of muscular
injuries. A nice easy trot is the best warm-up: The body temperature rises, and blood flow increases
to working muscles.

Try Stretching Your Horse

Under saddle, the back and neck can be stretched carefully. You can also stretch the horse's limbs by
extending the non-weight-bearing limb carefully in each direction, without pulling or using excessive
force. You should do the stretch at each site for 10-60 seconds. Stretching is better done once the
horse has had a light warm-up, if that's possible.

Establish an Exercise Routine

In order for your horse to maintain good physical condition, you should establish a regular daily
exercise routine. If your horse is stalled or restricted in a small pen or corral, try to give him 30
minutes to an hour of exercise each day. If he's pastured and free to move around, he'll still benefit
from a 20-minute workout each day.  Riding is one of the best ways to exercise your horse but you
can also vary the routine by occasionally lunging, driving or ponying him.  

Hire an Exerciser

If you have difficulty finding time to exercise your horse during the weekdays, consider hiring
someone-such as a neighborhood kid or staff member at your stable-to ride or lunge your horse a
few times a week. Doing so will make your horse much easier to work with on the weekends.
Irregular exercise predisposes to "tying up" and other injuries.

See Your Veterinarian

If you have questions about how much exercise your horse needs, consult your equine veterinarian
about developing a fitness program. He or she can help you match your horse with the right exercise
regimen.

Legal Disclaimer

If your pet is showing any signs of distress or you suspect your pet is seriously ill, CONTACT YOUR
VETERINARIAN immediately.  The exercise information presented on this website was developed by
Intelligent Content Corporation staff members and is the sole responsibility of Intelligent Content
Corporation. See the legal terms on the website for additional legal terms.