Fitness for ODE and a cross country question

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Agent XXX999

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Now my horse is sound (after his shoes were changed, hurrah!) I am aiming for Coombelands at the end of the month.

He was very fit and then had a quiet three weeks - in walk with small amounts of trot. He has been sound since Sunday (instant improvement) and hacked Sunday, yesterday and today. This morning I gave him a canter in the long grass, about 4 minutes, and he wasnt even puffing or sweating after. This is after about 15 mins of solid trot. His recovery time (breathing) is really short.

My question is this. I think he is fit enough to go ODE even now. However he has only showjumped before and I am worried about the xc phase.

1) How do I improve his stamina? He has fitness, but even after the canter today I could feel him slowing. How do I push him forward.

2) Am going XC schooling in 2 weeks. If he does well there, then we are going to Coombelands. Any tips on getting him started? Such as how to encourage him to realise that the jumps are solid, what tack to wear (currently ride him in a straight bar snaffle, but would like a bit more!) and how to get him in the water (he is great with puddles, but I have spent all winter trying to get him to jump water trays!)

Just help and advice really please!

Also do you think it would be better to so XC in a GP or a stubben jumping saddle which is very flat. And can I do dressage in a GP?

All these questions!
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Well if you assume that most XC courses should be under the 5 minute mark, then his fitness should be fine by the time the ODE comes around. Is he primarily a showjumper? Start off with the little logs with ground lines when you school , if he drops a leg he will realise!
Mine is fine with water as long as it doesnt suprise him, he seems to go into shock that I would make him jump into it, and would prefer to trot snorting into it. Do you think he will be strong?
 
We do interval training on the beach. 6 min canter, walk till horse recovers, 6 minute canter, walk till horse recovers, 3 min canter - push to gallop, back to canter, recover.

Obviously the time is shortened and trot work is put in when they are only half fit like yours sounds.
 
AmyMay, will interval training improve his stamina? We could probably do canter walk canter etc now, but he seems to want to stop around the 4 min mark? Sorry if that makes me sound dopey.

Yes, he is primarily a showjumper - we have BSJA'ed all winter, I am determined to have a good allrounder though - and I dont want to focus just on the showjumping. Hence the eventing thing. I used to event my old JA too at local level about once a month - we loved it.

The difference with Bruce is that he is 6 not 16 (like the pony) and he has never done it before!

We are just going for fun - I dont plan to affiliate (too blinking scary over 3" cross country!)

He is not strong really but can take hold of the bit (easy with a straight bar). He hates jointed bits - he sticks his head in the air and refuses to do anything other than gob at it.......
 
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AmyMay, will interval training improve his stamina

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Most definately. Hopefully the Eventing girls will respond to this post to. But it's the only way I know off to improve stamina.
 
if you look at animal trust on web it gives some very good info on fittening, interval training. try and get hold of a heart rate monitor they are brill for monitoring heart rates and recovery times so you can make a diary of their progression
 
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AmyMay, will interval training improve his stamina

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Most definately. Hopefully the Eventing girls will respond to this post to. But it's the only way I know off to improve stamina.

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It's like fartlek training...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartlek

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Dear Feufolet,

By the sound of it his stamina is improving and if you continue doing some fast work he will be ok, as like the others said the xc phase is probably going to be max 5 mins long.
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If mine slow up, I tend to let them, because thats just them telling me their running out of puff. But as you do more and more work he'll be able to go for longer.


Just started my baby affiliated stright away, she has no experience xc, but sounds like yours and is a very good sj.

She was a bit shocked at first that I wanted her to jump these solid objects, but had took her practicing the week before and she soon got into it. I had to use alot of leg and my voice came in handy, as long as she knew i was there and wanted her to do it she did.
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Water is always scary at first for some, its something they get used to. Slow up before you get to it, so it doesn't come as a shock and use your voice and leg, it seems to motivate them when your saying to them 'come on' and you have to really want to do it, otherwise they'll sense that you are just as scared as them. You have to be his leader to show him there isn't a problem.

When you go training start with some logs, boot him up, if he knocks one, he will feel it, but it should just encourage him to lift a bit more, he will respect the jump.

I'd stick to your GP for both xc and dressage, but really depends in what both of you are most comfortable with when you jump.

Have you tried a straight bar two ring gag, my baby is really soft in the mouth and just putting her one ring below the snaffle is enough to help with braking problems. Her gag is jointed in the middle but i'm sure it has a similar effect with a straight bar.

Sorry, for the long essay..felt i needed to dispense advice today and you were the poor soul that got it...
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Masterbronze thank you for that. I am worried though - he is very long legged (nearly 17.3) and trips over his feet when he spooks out hacking!

All advice is very very welcome!
 
I had this conversation a couple of years ago with my vet, he said that horses that had reached physical maturity and fitness could stay at near full fitness for up to 4 weeks (backed up by scientific study), we had a similar thing with mum's horse a month before Chatsworth, she had two weeks off and two weeks light work and she was fine.
 
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