How tiring is turnout?

[Burnie]

Tilly hasn't done much work all summer due to her on/off lameness, then the operation in October followed by 9 weeks box rest. So her muscle and fitness are obviously all gone :(

She is still recuperating and goes out for about 3-4 hours each morning. By the time I bring her in at dinner time she's practically nodding off while I'm changing her rugs. She spends quite a lot of the afternoon dozing and people have even asked if she's sedated :lol:

I thought she might be depressed but someone mentioned on another forum that their horse is the same after box rest. Could she be actually tired out just from a couple of hours turnout?

Although this kind of behaviour probably isn't helping... :lol:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w205/ClaireByrne/gallop.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w205/ClaireByrne/P1010028.jpg

[cocopops]

She probably does wear herself out, shes had a lot of time off and will have lost a lot of muscle etc and alot of her fitness.

[fairyfeet]

Imagine you'd just had a fortnight ill in bed. You get up, feeling much better, but you have little energy, no stamina and feel tired after the slightest effort. Same for horses on extended box rest. It'll take a while before she recovers enough not to feel so tired.

[helena]

My horse used to come in exhausted when he was out in a big field, especially when he was playing about. Now he's only in 1 acre it doesn't tire him out as much. If your girl has been on box rest even a couple of hours will be tiring and also it is probably de-stressing her too so she seems more relaxed.

[CityLights]

she might be a bit tired after being out all that especially seeing as there is little to no grass he is probably mooching around quite a bit,

she might also be a little depressed or feeling content in herself, the turnout is good though for her mind and for her body and fitness it will help her lungs recover after such a long time and will also help her build up some more muscle before you get to the riding stages, my horses are always much fitter than the average stable kept horse cause all they do all day is wander around so they dont get flabby the same