So Chador (aka Shandy) has been off the endurance circuit for about two years after an injury and then becoming a broodmare. However, now Djelanza is weaned I have started exercising her out doing long and slow work to strengthen her up.
Due to two years being off and not having a shoe on during that time I made the decision to give barefoot riding with my own horses a go, much to my Nan's skepticism. Yes this is probably a huge task to take on and will be a long hard road to go down but we are making small progresses daily.
Shandy is kept out 24/7 apart from currently being stabled in at night due to the weather, so she is at least constantly moving. I am varying the work done from soft headlands to walking up the road. Yesterday we made a lot of progress. A few km's up the road completely bare foot with Shandy power walking and even having our first trot together since being in work. Our trots were only short but she felt so good and so sound! So little by little we are riding out and have been reunited together as a rider and horse pair, something I thought may not happen after her tendon injury in 2009. No doubt when we eventually progress to canter (which will be a while till she has strengthened up more) it will be an emotional moment for me.
We shall see how we go and will invest in some barefoot boots to help us along our way!
Due to two years being off and not having a shoe on during that time I made the decision to give barefoot riding with my own horses a go, much to my Nan's skepticism. Yes this is probably a huge task to take on and will be a long hard road to go down but we are making small progresses daily.
Shandy is kept out 24/7 apart from currently being stabled in at night due to the weather, so she is at least constantly moving. I am varying the work done from soft headlands to walking up the road. Yesterday we made a lot of progress. A few km's up the road completely bare foot with Shandy power walking and even having our first trot together since being in work. Our trots were only short but she felt so good and so sound! So little by little we are riding out and have been reunited together as a rider and horse pair, something I thought may not happen after her tendon injury in 2009. No doubt when we eventually progress to canter (which will be a while till she has strengthened up more) it will be an emotional moment for me.
We shall see how we go and will invest in some barefoot boots to help us along our way!