The Importance of Exercising Your Horse

If your horse has spent a good part of the winter in the stables, be careful not to push her too hard during those first exercise routines in the spring. Like human beings, horses' joints and muscles become stiff and weak with lack of exercise. Take your horse out for several leisurely walks before pushing her to go faster. Also be aware of the distances you are expecting her to go. Ease the horse into the routine and she will learn to enjoy her daily exercise.

The Benefits of Exercise

Regular exercise will improve your horse's overall health by building muscle and increasing cardiovascular endurance. Exercise also lends itself to improvement in temperament and demeanor. It will serve as an important aid in gaining proper handling and control over your horse. Not only will she be happier, she will be better behaved and more fun for you to handle.

Some owners plan a more rigorous exercise schedule in order to prepare a horse for a show or race. These exercise routines are to be followed with more discipline and commitment than the recreational horse owner. While this type of training requires an owner to push the horse harder, it is still important to consider the injuries that overtraining can cause.

Owners should always be particularly attentive to any injuries a horse may have sustained. Exercise should be decreased or stopped completely until the injury has healed.