Fast/canter work...how far/how much?

[Hackback]

Also in awe! I have one decent field margin and even the microcob is down there in a flash.

Everywhere else goes from too boggy to too hard in about 5 days.

We have stubble fields now but the ground is so dry there are earthquake cracks in them and I don't fancy face planting or worse.

Same here, the earthquake cracks are horrendous. The stubble would be amazing if the ground weren't so hard. And yet on the other side (west) of the Pennines my in laws tell me they've had nothing but rain all summer.

I don't know about distance, but when I was rehabbing Raf following his suspensory issues the 6 week plan I was given by the vets culminated in an hour to an an hour and a half of mainly canter work 3 to 4 times a week. When the 6 weeks were up and I took him back for a check up he was given the all clear and the vet said "you can push on now". I honestly couldn't have pushed on any more!

 

[palo1]

I've just had our Autumn health check and my vet is delighted with Alw! He gave her a really thorough check and it was great to hear that she now has a 'lovely' low heart rate (I didn't actually ask what it was but I know the basic figure) as well as excellent resting respiratory rate, completely clear sounding lungs and normal respiratory responses. I did query her recovery rate with him but he felt I might be comparing her unfavorably with my Arab x who has a very rapid recovery rate as standard; she is clearly a very different kind of beast! Vet was super pleased with body condition score and demeanor too which is really reassuring.

He also said the canter work I've been doing over the summer seems to be helpful and as long as the going isn't too hard or soft will be beneficial to her. She is now in less work in fact but fit enough for trail hunting/blood hounding and can take it slightly easier on the canter work vis a vis her respiratory function. I'm so pleased!!

 

[WBGG]

Sounds like you're doing a great job with your asthmatic pony! I ride my friend's Connie who also suffers badly with asthma over the pollen season so I feel your pain.

She was really struggling with coughing in the stable and when ridden until we started her on Piriton during the pollen season this year, switched to soaked hay at all times and, got her weight down and upped her aerobic fitness. We have fields to ride in so there are plenty of canter opportunities and logs to pop over

During the winter when fields are wet, we do more trotting/hillwork to maintain fitness as we have no arena. At the moment, fields are still dry, so making the most of it!!

I hack out 3-4 times a week on average over the winter, usually more in Summer. Usually around an hour to 1 1/2 hours with a good amount of trotting interspersed with walk and 3/4 shortish canters/ a few logs. She still has the occasional cough in summer when pollen is particularly high, but the asthma is well controlled, she looks fantastic and she's more than fit enough for what I want to do.

 

[blitznbobs]

100 yards or so - it’s a long way to have good ground with what you are doing …

 

[palo1]

100 yards or so - it’s a long way to have good ground with what you are doing …

I do have good tracks which I know very, very well though we probably don't do more than 1/4 - 1/2 a mile at a time at a strong canter depending. I am careful with the going but as long as it hasn't been really really wet we are on springy, peaty old hill turf which is lovely for canter work. The flip side of the coin is also that the potential risks of overwork on my horse's legs feel justified in terms of the clear benefit to her lungs. But I am aware of the risks...