reconditioning after post tie-up lay-off

[Suzanne Mounts <mountss@usfca.edu>]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the advice last week re the tying-up situation.  Natty's
blood levels are now completely back to normal (I will not get the results
of the selenium assay until next week).  

I am now wondering about the steps to bring her back.  We started riding
yesterday.  A twenty minute walk.  Today we went for half an hour (I meant
to only add five minutes, but forgot my watch).  I want to proceed with
caution, but am wondering about how long it should take to bring her back to
pre-tie-up condition.

rBackground info:  Mare is 10, I have owned her three years, this is her
first tie-up that I am aware of.  Pre-tie-up: she was being ridden 4-6 times
a week.  Two or three of those were 45 minutes dressage work (by a much
better rider than I am), plus 30 to 40 minutes trail work.  The other two or
three were brisk paced (10-15 minute walking warm-up, then mostly trot, some
canter) trail work over hilly terrain--1 1/2 to 2 hours, occasionally three
hours.

She was laid off for three and a half weeks, the last two and a half she has
been out in a good sized paddock w/ a hill in it, and it has not been
raining too much, so she actually goes out and trots and/or canters around
occasionally.

She doesn't think too much of this walking routine, but I definitely don't
want to go too fast.  We had originally planned to do the Western States Fun
Ride April 18, perhaps a couple of more LD rides in May and June and maybe a
50 or two later this summer. 

Thanks for any suggestions.

Suzanne Mounts (and Triton Natalie--What do you mean, walk!)
Oakland, CA