I just got an old quarter horse, and he hasn't been ridden in a while. He is in his late 20's, so im not concerned with him taking off on me or bucking me off, but how do I to get him whipped back into shape without wearing him out?

Take it slow at first just as you would if you were starting out with a new exercise program for yourself. Be especially mindful of how he moves and how he breathes normally so you will see a big difference when you are working with him. At first, anyway, err on the side of caution. You still need to get to know each other.

Remember, he needs to learn to trust you specifically and you him. So while the tendency is to want to ride "hell-bent-for-leather" S - L - O - W is the opporative word here.

Good luck!

Take it slow like Cheryl said. Just cause he is in his 20's doesn't mean he is to old to act like a 2 year old. Start off in the round pen saddle him and let him move around and see what he does. If he allows you to get up in the saddle and just sit there do that and keep progressing from there. But give him more credit than you think, he will know if you are nervous about something and may try to take advantage. I had a 30 year old and still have a 28 year old, let me tell you they are smart and been around the block. We lay off our horses here in the summer since it is so hot, so little to no riding for about 3 months or so. If some one they didn't know went to get and ride them they would act a little goofy. But if I or my hubby went out to get them they new we weren't fooled. There are times that they act like they forgot everything they know but after about 5-10 minutes they know it is to much effort to put up to much of a fight and just go back to being there old selfs.

Good luck, He has a lot of years left.

thanks, ill keep all those things in mind. im pretty sure it will be pretty easy. i went to see him a couple of weeks ago for the first time and he was in a big, open field with two horses, and he let me come up to him and pet him without even moving. i had a bridle, because i just wanted to see what he would do, and he ran (aka: walked) off and wouldnt let me catch him again, so we may have to work on catching him in a field, but when i get him by himself, and in a smaller pen, im sure it wont be a problem. I also need to know how to fit a western girth. i used to ride western, but for the last few years its been english. i have a western saddle that a friend gave me, but no girth, so i need to know what size to buy.

This is the method that I use and it works perfectly. I have done all my horses this way and never had on get sores from it being the wrong size.

Here is the instructions from Cowboy Way, they have a picture showing you exactly where to put the measuring tape, I was unable to cut and paste the picture. The link is below.

http://www.cowboyway.com/HowTo/MeasureGirth.htm


Measure Your Horse's Girth
And How To Calculate Western Cinch Size

It is easy to measure your horse's heart girth. This measurement can be helpful for several things including getting an estimate on the size of the cinch your horse will need, and for calculating an estimate of a horse's weight.

Measuring Heart Girth
To measure a horse's heart girth, measure from the base of the withers down to a couple of inches behind the horse's front legs, under the belly, then up the opposite side to where you started. Notice this will cause your tape measure to run at an angle as shown by the yellow line in the photograph at right.

The measurement you arrive at is your horse's heart girth.



Calculating Western Cinch Size
There are several different ways to measure your horse for a Western cinch. The one we have found to be the most reliable is to measure the horse's heart girth (in inches), divide that measurement by 2, then subtract 3 inches.

The horse in the photo above measured 77 inches for his heart girth. So, to calculate his cinch size we're going to take his hearth girth, divide that measurement by 2, then subtract 3 inches:

77 inches divided by 2 = 38.5 inches

38.5 inches minus 3 inches = 35.5 inches

That's darn close! The horse in the photograph wears a 36 inch cinch. A different horse we measured the same day had a 75 inch heart girth. Seventy-five divided by 2 is 37.5, minus 3 inches gives us an answer of 34.5. That's also very close - this mare wears a 34 inch cinch.

This Is Just An Estimate...
Calculating your horse's cinch size using the method above is not always completely accurate. There are enough differences in saddles and horse body types to make any method of measuring for a cinch little more than an educated guess. Measuring an old cinch (if you have one) that fit the horse and saddle well would be a better way of finding out a good size for a new cinch, but that's not always possible. Of the methods we have tried, however, the one we described above has been the most accurate.


Hope this helps

thanks alot! i have been looking for how to fit girths but all i could find was english.

Just take it slow! Start with just walkig him under saddle for 15-20 minutes a day, working on bending and flexing, maybe some slight inclines or ground poles. After a fewdays, add in 5-10 minutes of light trot work for a week or three, keeping your rides 20-30 minutes. Your warm up and cool down should be lengthy, so you don't tax his joints or endurance.

After that, just take it slow, and watch his reactions.

You don't say what your intension are, so I'll assume pleasure/trail horse. Walk,Walk and more walk. It may seem to be very boring in the beginning but will be a great base for anything else. You can never walk enough, start on the flat then gradually increase time, distance and terrain[hill work up/down] You can still train @ walk, circles,serpentines,walk/halt transitions,rein backs,head set the possibilities are endless. I would stay away from round pens or lungeing as they keep him on a circle which puts torque on joints, older horses[well all horses really] tend to do better soundness wise if ridden more straight. Then they only have the concussion without the added stress of the torque. I love the old ones.Enjoy.