Fitness & feeding

BigBird146

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Joined
29 January 2008
Messages
558
Location
Oop north
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** also in NL but didn't get many responses**
Did my 1st hound ex on Sunday and am hoping to do most of the ones between now and beg Nov when hunting proper starts.
My horse is fairly fit, been hacking out 3-4 times a week + 1 or 2 schooling sessions a week for most of the summer. Hacks are usually 1- 1.5 hours on weekdays and a longer one at w/e with trotting when I can (quite hilly where I live) and try to encorporate a decent canter in as well.
So, how much do you think I need to be doing to be fit enough? Should I try and ride every day (except the day after when I don't think either of us will be up to it!) or would I be OK to give him another day off during the week, so ride 4 times/ week + the Sunday out hunting, rest the day before and day after?
Also feedwise, he's a pretty good doer (warmblood), still out 24/7 with a scoop of Ride & Relax morning and night, Should I increase his amount of food I give him on the morning of hunting (he'll be getting it about 4-5 hours before I actually ride).
What do you all do?
Sorry if long winded but I've never needed to get a horse to this level of activity before! Thanks.
 

tjmadron

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Joined
27 February 2008
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85
Location
cornwall
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Hi i groom for a master who has three horses ...i ride them 5 days a week from August .... i ride for about 1-1.5hrs doing road work and lots of trotting up hills i fit in the odd canter when i am not riding and leading ..... once they start cubbing and hunting they are bathed, exercised and kept stabled the day before and always have a day off after.

With regular cubbing and hunting they soon get really fit

Feed wise they have 1-2 dippers of pasture mix and 1/2 dipper of sugarbeet.


Although this year my boss is injured and won't be riding till Xmas if at all this season ....but i am still exercising them just incase
 
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