Fitness

[loser_n_proud7]

I hate the fact that I feel the need to preface this, but I do. Please do NOT reply if you have nothing useful to say. I know that I am a knowledgeable, experienced rider. I know how to put a horse through it's paces. I am not overhorsed or babying my horse

Comments

[loser_n_proud7]

We do a lot on the trails when the weather is better :)
We try to incorporate poles but the ring is usually crazed when I'm riding between the 15-20 other boarders and the lesson kids. When we get the ring relatively to ourselves I try to use the poles though. I also suck at the spacing, and need to get better at that.
And lastly, I need to get better about trot sets. I get motivated and do them for a few weeks, then get distracted and they taper off. I acknowledge that that is my fault, and they would probably make a big difference. Thanks E_P.

[harnessphoto]

Is he clipped? Sweat may not be related to fitness level. Also- the level of work you are doing isn't much in terms of getting fitness levels up. You need to take longer rides and do lots and lots of trotting and cantering. A truly fit horse is just beginning to get in the groove at the end of an hour. Distance riding over varied terrain would be my recommendation. I would start by doing two or three miles a day, six days a week, then increase to five miles a day. Once you get to that point, you can throw in a long ride (15-20 miles) once a week. By that point, you'll have a fit horse.

Just to put it in perspective- Ozzy and I do about 80 miles a week in the summers to keep him in fighting form. Even in the dead of winter I work him 4-6 days a week and include things like weight pulling, jumping, and canter sets.

[loser_n_proud7]

He is very minimally clipped, which plays a big part of why he sweats so much. The level of work I'm doing is asking him to use himself, move through his back from behind into the bridle, which certainly isn't super hard, but it does work him. I wish we could distance ride. Over the summer, at our summer barn, I can do more of it thankfully, but its all on very hard packed surepack roads. I'd kill for real trails and fields to work on. To give you an idea of his fitness (though this was when he was just coming back into work, and over very steep hills), our 3 mile loop took just about an hour at a walk. His hooves and legs couldn't handle trotting on the surepack quite yet.
I will hopefully be able to add more distance riding as the weather warms up.
Thanks for the advice!

[harnessphoto]

It does work his muscle, but it won't do much to help his fitness. It'll work his build, but not his stamina. I don't have real trails either ;)

[loser_n_proud7]

You make a very good point :)
You're extremely lucky you have neighboring land owners who allow you to ride on their land. At my school-year barn we are mostly surrounded by residential areas, though I will admit I haven't asked if I can ride through their yards, but people don't tend to love horses traipsing through their backyards. At our summer barn, the whole area is dairy farmers.... enough said.

[landrews]

I've used Interval Training to build fitness when an hour a day is all I have to be on my horse's back :-) The trot sets, as you mentioned above, are the most valuable in conditioning a horse, I think. I do trot sets with lateral work and ground poles, interspersed with two-minute walks and two-four minute gallops. When I can't ride and I get the BO to ride my (fit) horse, she does a five minute walk, twenty minute trot, two-minute walk, five minute trot, three minute gallop, five minute trot, two minute gallop, two minute walk, eight minute trot and then walks out.

eta: spelling!

[harnessphoto]

Yes yes yes to interval training.

[loser_n_proud7]

I'm thinking the interval training is the way to go, thanks for the link!

[wastedrock]

as resounding yes! Every event horse (or in my opinion any horse) should do these!

[maggies_lens]

You know... I almost wonder if maybe he isn't being ridden too much and isn't getting the chance to recover, as such? Not sure if this is going to make sense but I'll try. Friend of mine was getting a young gelding fit for endurance. She was riding heaps and the horse (a STB X arab) wasn't getting fitter and was pretty cranky. She got a massage therapist out for him who also rides endurance and after speaking with her changed the whole program. She only rode every second day and did what's called LSD training. No she didn't shoot the horse up on Crack: Long Slow Distance. "D Lots of working trotting over different terrain, with cantering added as he got fitter. Did a bit of basic dressage out on the trail too to keep him focused and always made sure he was using himself properly. He got a heck of a lot fitter VERY quickly. The days off let his system recover and he seems better for it. If this is not suitable for you, maybe try spicing things up with basic horse games, see if there is a polocrosse club anywhere near you; most horses

[loser_n_proud7]

That's a very different approach, but I can definitely see how it would work. I would LOVE to do polocrosse, but unfortunately there isn't an onsite club and I don't have trailer or access to one. I'd love to jump more often, but it's not allowed at the barn unless you're in twice weekly lessons, and I can't even afford weekly lessons. I do jump when there's no one at the barn (which is unfortunately rare). I'd love to get him massages, chiro, and acupuncture, but unfortunately those aren't in the budget :(

[beybladesabre]

I've read a few studies that have found that 3 days on 1 day off is the most beneficial for horses.

And as far as sweating goes, fitter horses will sweat sooner in a ride than an unfit horse, because they are more efficient at cooling themselves. Fit horses sweat tends to run clear, while unfit horses will have whitish or foamy sweat, and not just between their legs or under the saddle pad where there's friction.

What about replacing a ride or two a week with a lunging session? I'm a huge fan of lunging when done properly, and with side reins. If nothing else it would probably get some different muscles working and improve his topline.

Interval training is awesome. You can easily do it in the arena if you have a watch and there's not a billion other people riding at the same time.

[loser_n_proud7]

I tend to do 2-3 days on, 1 off. 3 on, 1 off is my preferred as far as getting the most out of my rides. Days 4+ aren't as efficient rides as days 1-3. Unfortunately due to college work and regular work, I can't keep him in as strict a schedule as I'd like.

Interesting re: sweating. I never knew that about fit vs. unfit horses! Thanks!

He doesn't lunge well, and he's big with arthritis in his hocks already at 8 (and had it at 4 upon purchase as well... it hasnt progressed very far since then, so here's hoping it won't get too much worse) so I don't like lunging him often, but adding in a biweekly lunge wouldn't kill him. I need to pick up a pair of sidereins.

I'm thinking interval training is the way to go. Thanks!

[hagazusa]

If lunging is hard on his hocks, you might try long-lining him (aka long-reining) on the trails, up and down hills, if you can. He'll go in a straight line, which is a lot easier on his hocks, and the hill work will build topline. If you don't already know how to long-line, maybe a trainer can show you.

Good luck!

[red_rockstar]

just have to say, long-lining on trails up and down hills sounds like a great workout for you the rider as well! whew i'm tired just thinking about it haha.