Bit worried about fitness?? Thoughts?

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I've only managed to get out cubbing once and got opening meet next Tuesday.. I'm a bit worried about his fitness..

He's been ticking over all summer and done a couple of hunter trials etc. At the moment he's having 2 decent hacks with fast work twice a week and been riding in the school 3 times a week.

He seems fairly fit but I really wish I'd got more cubbing in... What do you think?
 
I don't ever go cubbing (I don't do mornings and Ron hates cubbing and turns into a raving loony), and do about the same as you are now whilst everyone is off cubbing. As long as you don't expect to do long days for the first few days out, and you're reasonably certain of his legs then I'm pretty certain you'd be fine. It's always nervewracking tho isn't it!
 
Cubbing certainly hasn't added to my boy's fitness! A LOT of standing around! So you probably haven't missed much there from a fitness point of view.

I am worrying the same as you, in fact was going to start a thread asking about people's fitness regimes! 5 times a week with 2 lots of fast work should be enough, if you are doing good long canters + some galloping. At this point, I guess you can only do the best you can do, and keep a close eye on him your first few times out.

I have been managing to ride 6 days a week for the past 4-5 weeks. Mostly 1.5 hour hacks with cantering round stubble a couple of times a week, and two fun rides of about 10 miles which I have done all in trot and canter (tired pony!!). The cantering has been hard work as he is quite lazy, and we generally manage about twice round the field in each direction, making about 10-15 minutes cantering in total with a bit of a break in the middle. I've been trying to up the speed a bit recently too.

What does everyone else do?
 
I think OP should be just fine. As long as you know when enough is enough and it is time to take him home. I have done 11 earlies so far and it certainly helps. The rest of the time I hack out round grass tracks doing plenty of long trots with the ood canter. When stuck for time will ride in field if not too wet or do my version of mobile lunging usually in semi darkness whereby I walk round the field and he trots or canters round me. I don't care about outline or how he works so for me I just want him to puff a bit. I am trying to work plus keep 3 fit......not easy.
 
I would be more worried about the hardness of legs, try and trot on the roads as much as you can. It depends on the hunting you do, and where you are to how fit your horse should be.
 
Now that's interesting Simsar. I always try to AVOID trotting on roads, and just trot whenever I find a verge (or a hill, not many round us, so I always trot up them!). Just worried about concussion. Do you think it really does help? I figure his legs will get enough hammering out hunting!
 
I've always been told you should do plenty of road work, and make a point of doing some trotting on the roads. I don't meant hammering along like we do out hunting, but a good steady trot, keeping his hocls under him.

was always taught that it helps to prepare the bones for the concussion, preventing sore shins.
 
tootsietoo said:
Now that's interesting Simsar. I always try to AVOID trotting on roads, and just trot whenever I find a verge (or a hill, not many round us, so I always trot up them!). Just worried about concussion. Do you think it really does help? I figure his legs will get enough hammering out hunting!
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Exactly that you do not want them to just get a hammering you are then asking for trouble. Good road work is a must for hunters I think (we do it with the polo's too hardens tendons). Start gently though please and build it up. My hunters never wear boots either, doesn't have to be fast work just a good steady pace.
 
I'm sure he will be fine as it sounds like you have kept him pretty fit anyway. I also have only managed to get out cubbing once this season but I have got him pretty fit. I ride him 5-6 days per week which up until recently was nearly all hacking, the odd Show Jumping Competition and occasionally a bit of schooling. We have been doing two or three 2-3 hour hacks and 2-3 1-1\2 hour hacks per week. I try to include a mixture of road work, canter work and hill work. Now the nights are drawing in, I am schooling him 1-2 times per week taking him on 1 or 2 2-3 hour hacks per week and 1-2 short hacks (about 45 minutes each time). He is hunting fit now though, so it's just a case of keeping him ticking over.
 
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