Trio Burrows 15 yr old Irish chestnut gelding

Trio Burrows 15 yr old Irish chestnut gelding, used for riding club activities – has previously come once or twice a month for added fitness and to aid in building his hind end engagement on the water treadmill so is already used to a certain level of water resistance.
8 sessions over 2 weeks- 4 sessions each week on consecutive days, brought in by owner for every session, lightly ridden at home on the weekend in between, pictures were taken post exercise, 1 st session consisted of low fetlock level water and 22 minutes duration with a 4% incline Last session consisted of 25 minutes, mid cannon level water and 7 % incline
Duration, water depth and incline were increased gradually over sessions allowing him adjust to each adjustment using small bursts at each increment.
Back measurements were taken using a flexicurve and were measured post exercise on session one and session eight, there was an increase in muscle development with 2.5 cm growth shown at behind the withers and 2 cm growth shown at mid thoracic area. Hind end muscles were more defined and equal muscle development through the gluteal and lumbar area could be seen visibly in comparison photographs.