Fit enough/fed enough... still blowing?!

I'd agree that I wouldn't expect a horse on that level of work to be that fit. But would also question if blowing then recovering or sustaning blowing? F has always blown/been a high blower however fit but I always went off his recovery time. If your horse isn't recovering perhaps a vet check would be a good idea?
 
EquestrianFairy said:
Only one person in my jump lesson, her horse is a very whizzy, high energy, never ever out of breath type.

It makes me wonder if it's actually the comparison between the two that makes mine appear to be worse than he is? Perhaps if I was in a lesson with something not so energetic or athletic it may show that mine is reacting normally to such an intense lesson.
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Maybe he picks up on the whizzy one's vibes and gets a bit stressy?
 
ester said:
I'd agree that I wouldn't expect a horse on that level of work to be that fit. But would also question if blowing then recovering or sustaning blowing? F has always blown/been a high blower however fit but I always went off his recovery time. If your horse isn't recovering perhaps a vet check would be a good idea?
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yes, some horses just are a bit like that so it helps to know the horse well - Millie does a funny puffing and panting walk after she's done fast work but if you stop her from bustling around feeling important, she is just breathing normally underneath it all.
 
I'll try my best to answer everyone..

No, he doesnt get sweaty, even with our beach type hacks I have to work him hard to get a sweat out of him.

Yes it Is an indoor school, well surfaced but my own school is outdoor so that's probably our only indoor school we use regular.

Vet has checked him, did bloods also- all clear.

I think he does enjoy jumping, I don't need to fight to get him to jump, hes forward with ears pricked and it's without a doubt his natural forte as he is so talented at it.. that's why I try not to do too much of it, I didn't want to turn him sour.

He appears to recover quite quickly, however, I walk him around outside after the lesson to cool down so whether that's because it's cooler outside or whether it's because I'm walking him I don't know?
It's only this jump lesson that I'm aware of his recovery rate- he doesn't seem to get puffy or out of breath to that extreme any other time.

Could someone do me a rough idea of a basic training routine to help incorporate the extra fitness he needs?
Occasionally we will hire a course of jumps In addition to our lessons (usually the wednesay) to practice.

I (wrongly) assumed he would be quite fit, there are some big SJ's in our area who put horses in a walker in the morning, Ride an hour in the school in the afternoon and that's it so I thought I was doing the best by making sure my horse did more but I think I've not done it right.
 
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It may be anxiety.

My mare is fit but if we put her under pressure in a jumping lesson she can blow a bit as she holds herself and doesn't breath properly during her rounds.
Never sweaty, just blows on the breaks in between exercises.

The more relaxed she is, then she doesn't blow.
I know the more I relax and breath the better she is, do you get excited or a bit anxious about jumping?
 
Indoor schools without ventilation get quite close and the air gets thicker without you noticing too much. Do you blow more after your jumping lesson? Would having it outside bevan option as a comparison?
 
EKW said:
Indoor schools without ventilation get quite close and the air gets thicker without you noticing too much. Do you blow more after your jumping lesson? Would having it outside bevan option as a comparison?
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Now you mention it.. I am dripping in sweat from the lessons.. to the point where I can happily be in a tshirt middle of winter for that lesson.. yet.. nothing else gets me that hot and if we hire the other local venue to practice over a course I can still do that in a coat and not break a sweat (the one we hire is much bigger)

They only do outside lessons in summer on the grass.
 
millitiger said:
It may be anxiety.

My mare is fit but if we put her under pressure in a jumping lesson she can blow a bit as she holds herself and doesn't breath properly during her rounds.
Never sweaty, just blows on the breaks in between exercises.

The more relaxed she is, then she doesn't blow.
I know the more I relax and breath the better she is, do you get excited or a bit anxious about jumping?
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That describes my friends horse exactly, blows when in a shared jump lesson, absolutely fine in any other situation.
 
just a thought: my horse sounds similar to the op's - fit and performing well but blowing during canter work. my vet suggested getting him scoped and it turns out that he has a degree of vocal chord paralysis.

I might be way off the mark here but i also questioned his fitness originally before deciding it was something more.
 
Interval training. So canter hard till puffing then walk till recovered and repeat.

Cavaletti training in trot and canter - great for the core and fitness.

General flatwork schooling to encourage correct way of going to increase fitness in a frame for prolonged periods.
 
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