Fast work (how much a week?)

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SILVERTRINITY24

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How much fast work would you do a week? Horse is reasonably fit, ridden 7 days a week, compete in dressage and showjumping every other week. Would like to start eventing and hunting next year so needs to be fitter. Having to hire gallops as the ground is horrendous on hacks and trying to work out how many times a week would be beneficial. The arena we have is rather small 20X40 and horse is quite big (17hh) so unfair to do large amounts with him in there. Any advise or top tips would be greatly appreciated! Thank you
 
To get mine fit for hunting he does fast work three times a week out hacking on hilly terrain. To maintain it he does basically none bar hunting every week and a schooling session two or three times a week from his sharer.

Autumn hunting early on gets him fit too.
 
For eventing (lower levels) I'd want to do fast work 2-3 times a week. If you're taking about 100+, definitely 3 times a week but for 80-90, you could "get away" with twice.
Interval training is really good for building fitness as well.
 
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Depending on the ground my lot go to the gallops two or three times a week. I also have fab hacking a box ride away, so intersperse it with that when the ground is ok. I will be aiming to do low level eventing, albeit with a very small pony so he needs to be fitter to make the time. I also do long distance stuff, so it helps with that.
 
When you say fast work what do you actually mean? Structured galloping or a jolly hack and canter?

If the former then you need to be careful you don’t overdo it. For lower level Eventing once a week should be plenty for most horses. When going up the grades every 4th day to increase fitness and then every 5th/6th to maintain.

If what you mean is a canter here and there in lieu of structured galloping then I’d say 2-3 times a week
 
Mine rarely did more than one bit of fast work a week, they did plenty of cantering while schooling and jump training, lots of hacking with a canter/ spin up a hill, plus the odd xc school where they did a bit more. I have produced numerous horses for lower levels without doing any proper galloping most just do not need it to get round a 90/100 comfortably within the time as long as they are well conditioned and have a good general fitness level they should be fine without much fast work
 
For low level eventing (up to 100) I don’t do any formal fast work but we do have good hills on our hacking. If you have very flat terrain or don't hack then once a week should be enough, unless it's a difficult horse to get fit.
 
TheMule said:
For low level eventing (up to 100) I don’t do any formal fast work but we do have good hills on our hacking. If you have very flat terrain or don't hack then once a week should be enough, unless it's a difficult horse to get fit.
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I forgot to mention our hacking is also hilly so even a short hack involves trotting up a couple of fairly steep hills which some newcomers find really hard initially even if they have arrived reasonably fit, their fitness increases without the need to go fast.
 
I was going to echo a few above in that my horses don't do any structured fast work for hunting or evening at 90, but i do get them to crack on out hacking and when we have a canter if there is a suitable spot i tend to ask them to move up the gears. This can be a couple of times a week but as for going to the gallops if the rest of your hacking is reasonable i wouldn't go more than once a week and maybe use the other time to box to a better hacking spot if your struggling.

It is very easy to damage them by doing too much rather than not enough. Another point could be dependent on the horse i know my two both require quite different work to keep them fit, one requires more canter than the other who actually does better in trot.
 
Does he never have a day off then? 😮

I'd echo the above and say if horse is in full work you shouldn't need to do any fast work, just make sure you get some good hacking in, and of there's the opportunity to have a canter then do, but once a week should be plenty. When you get above Novice is when most horses will need a bit of fitness work. Same with hunting, some good regular hacking should be enough on top of the hunting days. I'd start off with a half day out hunting then work up to a full day over a few weeks. 😊
 
When we were getting the pony ready for FEI trials we took him to the gallops once a week, flatwork or jumped 3x weekly (including competing) and hacked 2x. He was a connie/TB pony and over the winter months he got very fit. He also did the odd day hunting and by the start of the season was good to go
 
My horse does fast work two to four times a week though it is more "jolly hack and canter" than actual structured fast work. I have taken her to the gallops a few times and let her completely go until she brings herself back but this is only as and when we can. It helps with her fitness to canter on the hills regularly but I mainly just do it because she enjoys it.
 
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