Exercise tapering

I've accidentally done this before my last 2 (dressage) shows, both times because horse seemed a bit lacklustre rather than with any great planning. We just did some low key stretching and a little on and back the week before.
It made me a bit anxious because I couldn't do a last minute tune up but my mare came off the box firing on all cylinders.
If I can change my mindset and stop freaking out the day before a show I think I'll carry on ;) as far as MY dressage is concerned, if it's not there the week before , another couple of days drilling in the school is not going to help anything!
 
Basically it is saying that human athletes reduce exercise prior to a big competition in order to decrease exercise stress, eliminate fatigue and allow the body to recover. A German vet has done some research into applying the same technique to horses. Exercise normally in week 1, then the week leading upto a competition you taper the work off.
He measured the concentration of blood lactate which is a sign of the amount of energy being expended. This increased during the week of reduced work. The muscles store fuel as glycogen which takes upto 72 hrs to replace, therefore for example a show jumper jumps big fences or a dressage horse does a lot of piaffe or passage immediately before a competition these muscle groups will not have recovered and performance could be affected.
 
christine48 said:
Basically it is saying that human athletes reduce exercise prior to a big competition in order to decrease exercise stress, eliminate fatigue and allow the body to recover. A German vet has done some research into applying the same technique to horses. Exercise normally in week 1, then the week leading upto a competition you taper the work off.
He measured the concentration of blood lactate which is a sign of the amount of energy being expended. This increased during the week of reduced work. The muscles store fuel as glycogen which takes upto 72 hrs to replace, therefore for example a show jumper jumps big fences or a dressage horse does a lot of piaffe or passage immediately before a competition these muscle groups will not have recovered and performance could be affected.
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ooo that is interesting... so much for my fast work 3 days before team chasing... At times we are out once a week.

I will have to have a read and see if i can manage the final run up differently.

Interestingly (to me musing) i do always give the day off before a competition and one after and then hack for 2 days, fast work on the third, hack 4th day and off 5th day. This seems to work quite well for me and the barmy one
 
Haven't read it but I usually give mine the day off before a competition or just a gentle quick schooling / lungeing session as I feel they're so much fresher for the event then. It does make sense I think.
 
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